Join us for “Schenectady Wine Society” a collection of curated wine tastings by and for local wine lovers at our historic sites. This time, we’ll be sampling wines that wrap our senses in everything summertime has to offer. Join your hosts, Buffy Leonard and city historian Chris Leonard on a tasting and history tour of their favorite wines for the season. $30; pre-registration required. Must be 21+ with valid ID. All ticket sales are final.

Join the Schenectady County Historical Society and the Erie Canal Museum for this 90 minute cycling tour through Schenectady looking at the city’s Erie Canal and brewing history, as you ride along the historic Mohawk River. The ride begins and ends at Druthers Brewing Company, where you will be treated to a beer as part of your ride as well as a brief history of the brewery itself. Go to the following link for more information or to buy a ticket: https://eriecanalmuseum.org/cycling/

In the year 1800, Schenectady was a small city in a new nation entering a new century. Old colonial traditions were giving way to new American traditions. In this tour, we’ll investigate how the Schenectady Stockade was transformed during the Early Republic period, looking at the buildings of the era, discussing stories, customs, and more. This tour complements our new exhibit, "A New Nation," on display at the SCHS. This program is free for members, but RSVP required. Non-members are $12/person. All ticket sales are final.

Drink the Seasons is ready for summer; are you? In celebration of the sunshine, join for an evening of seasonal cocktails and more at Schenectady Historical. Led by historian John Gearing, we’ll make — and sample — a variety of historic libations, made with summer flare. $30; pre-registration required. Must be 21+ with valid ID. All ticket sales are final.

Can you keep a secret? This tour explores the Stockade through the writings of Harriet Mumford Paige, Schenectady’s own version of Lady Whistledown. Living in the early 19th century, she was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary penchant for peddling rumors. Together we’ll air out all of her neighbors’ dirty laundry! This program is free for members, but RSVP required. Non-members are $12/person. All ticket sales are final.

This class is for never-ever painters, those with experience looking to try a new style, or anyone in between. We'll learn different watercolor painting techniques and create a free-flowing, abstract 9×12 painting. After tearing your painting into strips/shapes and attaching them to fresh base, you’ll have created a unique art piece ready for framing, or multiple smaller pieces used for greeting cards — your choice! Frames will be available to purchase during class for an additional $6. Our instructor will be Rebecca Cigal of Cigal Studio.   $45 fee includes materials.

Join author David A. Banks for a discussion of and reception for his new book The City Authentic: How the Attention Economy Builds Urban America. After a presentation and Q+A, we'll enjoy cocktails on the lawn of SCHS. This is the first book to explain how and why cities borrow the tactics and strategies of reality tv stars and social media influencers and why it works. Blending insightful analysis with pop culture, this engaging study of New York State’s Capital Region is an accessible glimpse into the social phenomena that influence contemporary cities. The rising economic fortunes of cities in the Rust Belt, Banks argues, are due in part to the markers of its previous decay—which translate into signs of urban authenticity on the internet. The City Authentic unpacks the odd connection between digital media and derelict buildings, the consequences of how we think about industry and place, and the political processes that have enabled a new paradigm in urban planning. Mixing urban sociology with media and cultural studies, Banks offers a lively account of how urban life and development are changing in the twenty-first century. David A. Banks is Lecturer and Director of Globalization Studies at the University at Albany, a delegate to the Troy Area Labor Council, and author of many essays on technology, cities, and politics which have appeared in The Baffler, The Guardian, Dwell Magazine, and more.   $8, free for members. No advanced tickets.

The Mabee Farm will be open just for kids! Tour the entirety of our farm with special demonstrations of colonial crafts. Butter making, barn-building, blacksmithing and meeting the farm animals are just some of the activities available. This program is free for members, but RSVP required. Non-members are $10/person. All ticket sales are final.

This year, the popular Mohawk river paddling tours return to both Schenectady and Waterford. For centuries, Schenectady’s history has revolved around the mighty Mohawk River. Our Schenectady kayak tour takes you from the modern Mohawk Harbor to the site of our city’s ancient port. In nearby Waterford, history lives at the meeting of New York’s two great waterways! The town of Waterford has long been a vital crossroads for the people of this area. Our Waterford tour takes you between picturesque islands and through the grand locks of the Erie Canal. Along both routes, our expert guide will regale you with the history of the area. Guests will be provided with a kayak, life vest, and paddle. Guests should be prepared to paddle for about two hours. There are no bathrooms at either site. Full schedule: Schenectady Dates: meet at Mohawk Harbor near Druthers July 5 @ 6pm July 12 @ 6pm July 19 @ 6pm July 26 @ 6pm August 23 @ 6pm Waterford Dates: meet at Waterford Boat Launch at First and Front Street June 24 @ 10am July 15 @ 10am August 19 @ 10am **All ticket sales are final. In the event of thunderstorms or severe rain and/or wind, and we must cancel, you will receive a full refund**  

With the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, New York truly became the “Empire State.” Once a sleepy farming town with an important harbor, Schenectady experienced a dramatic transformation of its own during the canal era. Would the canal be a blessing, a blight, or perhaps both? This program is free for members, but RSVP required. Non-members are $12/person. All ticket sales are final.