Join Schenectady City Historian Chris Leonard as explore the stately GE Realty Plot! We'll uncover stories about GE inventors and executives, Schenectady business and political leaders, entertainers, and more, plus discover the formation of this historic neighborhood, and ongoing efforts to protect these stately homes. The GE Realty Plot has been home to some of the world’s foremost leaders in science, engineering, business, politics, and the military. You probably know Charles P. Steinmetz and Nobel Prize winner Irving Langmuir lived in the GE Realty Plot, but what about Colonel James Andrews, Izetta Jewel Miller, Albert Hull & Alice Scudder... Tickets: $25/person and include entry into one of the homes and snacks on its large front porch! Location: The tour meets at Steinmetz Memorial Park on Wendell Avenue, next to the Unitarian Church (1221 Wendell Ave.). (Not Steinmetz Park on Rosa Road) Time: Tours start at 10 AM sharp and last approximately 2 hours Parking: There is ample parking on Wendell Ave and surrounding streets. Please do not park in the Unitarian Church parking lot. By joining the tour, you're not just immersing yourself in history; you're also making a difference. All proceeds from the tour go to the Schenectady County Historical Society and the Office of the City Historian of Schenectady, supporting their invaluable work in preserving our shared heritage.

Fueling America’s passion for gardens, the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program annually celebrates the country’s most exciting, creative, and innovative private gardens. This year, SCHS' shade garden at Brouwer House Creative will be open, along with several others in Schenectady and Niskayuna. Sited in New York's first historic district and hidden behind one of the area's oldest homes awaits a reimagined and ever-evolving green space designed for pollinators. What started out as just a basic clean up and weeding gig soon evolved into a growing collection of both native species and rare ornamentals with attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators in mind. Visitors should be on the lookout for hummingbirds, along with various types of butterflies and bees before being smitten by the secret shade garden only revealed by ducking under an archway smothered by our native "Dutchman's Pipe." This garden's estimated size is ¼ acre. Open Days 2024: Saturday, July 20 Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details and registration at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/garden-directory/50-shades-of-green