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Seneca Falls is a town in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. Seneca Falls is widely believed to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls, in Frank Capra's holiday classic, It's A Wonderful Life.

Get in

By air

By car

New York State Thruway (Interstate 90), Exit 41. Route 414 South to Routes 5&20 east to Seneca Falls.

Get around

Map
Map of Seneca Falls

See

  • 1 Women's Rights National Historical Park, Visitor Center: 136 Fall Street, +1 315 568-0024. Daily 9AM-5PM except holidays. One of the United States National Parks. $3 or pass.
    • Wesleyan Chapel, 136 Fall St. Tours daily. The remains of the Wesleyan Chapel are immediately adjacent to the Visitor Center. The First Women's Rights Convention was held here in 1848 and considered by many historians to be the formal beginnings of the Women's Rights Movement. Talks are given daily by park staff.
    • M'Clintock House, 14 William St. Waterloo. Open summer only Th-Su, 1PM-4PM. Home of Thomas and Mary Ann M'Clintock, prominent members of Waterloo's Quaker community who were key players in planning and hosting the First Women's Rights Convention. The home has been restored to its 1848 appearance, and displays exhibits about their work in Anti-Slavery and Women's Rights.
    • Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, 32 Washington St. Open daily early March - mid December. This former home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton is now restored to it's 1848 appearance. Ranger-led tours are provided daily.
  • "It's A Wonderful Life" Museum, IDEA Centre, 32 Fall St, +1 315 568-5838. 11AM-4PM Tue-Sat, year-round.
  • 2 National Women's Hall of Fame, 76 Fall St, +1 315 568-8060, fax: +1 315 568-2976, . May-Sept. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 12PM-5PM. Oct.-Apr. W-Sa 11AM-5PM. Closed Jan. Adults $3, Student/Senior $1.50, under five free, family rate $7.
  • 3 Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry, 89 Fall St, +1 315 568-1510, fax: +1 315-568-1504, . Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Mid June-Labor Day also Su 12PM-4PM. Suggested donation $2.
  • Seneca Falls Historical Society Museum, 55 Cayuga St, +1 315 568-8412. M-F 9AM-4PM.
  • Frank J. Ludovico Sculpture Trail (Along the south shore of the Seneca-Cayuga Canal, between Sucker Brook and Bridge St). 1.75-mile trail featuring statues that focus on the women's rights movement, but also represent life on the canal and local industries.

Nearby

  • Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, +1 315 568-5987. 3395 Routes 5 & 20 East. Established in 1938 and run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this refuge covers 7,068 acres (2,860 hectares). It is situated at the north end of Cayuga Lake in Seneca, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties.

Do

Festivals

  • It's A Wonderful Life Festival. second weekend in December.

Buy

Eat

  • The national fast-food chains are available.
  • Penny's Place Restaurant, +1 315-568-8746. Routes 5 and 20 in the Liberty Plaza. Breakfast, lunch, Friday dinner. M-Th 5AM-3:30PM; F 5AM–8PM. Sa 5:30AM-1:30PM Sunday: 5:30AM-1PM. Large portions and home cooked meals.

Splurge

Drink

The Finger Lakes region sports more than 70 wineries.

  • Temperance Tavern, 81-83 Fall St, +1 315-568-5454. Th-Sa 5PM-11PM. “A Toast! To all the Great Women!”

Coffee

  • ZuZu Café, 107 Fall St, +1 315 568-2230. Free high speed wireless internet access.

Sleep

Hotels and motels

  • The Gould Hotel (formerly Hotel Clarence), 108 Fall St, +1 315 712-4000, toll-free: +1-877-788-4010. Originally constructed in 1920, The Gould Hotel served Seneca Falls visitors for many years until it was turned into apartments. Later, it sat vacant until 2009 when it reopened as Hotel Clarence, named after the guardian angel from It's a Wonderful Life. It's now once again known as The Gould Hotel, and has 48 clean and comfortable rooms featuring high-def televisions and imported linens. $100.
  • Seneca Falls Microtel Inn and Suites, 1966 Rts 5 & 20., +1 315 539-8438, fax: +1 315 539-4780.

Bed and breakfasts

Go next

Explore other towns in the Finger Lakes area.

Routes through Seneca Falls
BuffaloGeneva Template:Lfarrow Jct N S  W  E  AuburnAlbany/Syracuse


This city travel guide to Seneca Falls is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.