National Register Listings in
Cayuga County, New York

Allen, Henry, House Auburn Button Works and Logan Silk Mills Aurora Steam Grist Mill Aurora Village-Wells College Historic District Belt-Gaskin House Burritt, Orrin W., House Case Memorial-Seymour Library Cayuga County Courthouse and Clerk's Office Centreport Aqueduct Church Street-Congress Street Historic District Cottage Farm Durkee, Almeron, House Dwight, Charles Chauncy, House East Genoa Methodist Episcopal Church Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex First Baptist Church of Weedsport Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged Hosmer, William and Mary, House House at 15 East Cayuga Street House at 17 Aurora Street House at 18 Aurora Street House at 20 Aurora Street House at 21 West Cayuga Street House at 31 West Cayuga Street House at 36 South Main Street House at 37 West Cayuga Street House at 46 South Main Street Howland Cobblestone Store Howland, Augustus, House Howland, Charles- William H. Chase House Howland, Slocum and Hannah, House Huntington, Ezra A., House Hutchinson Homestead Ingham, William Smith, House Lakeside Park McGeer, John, House Mentz Church Moravia Union Cemetery Morse Farm Mosher Farmstead New Hope Mills Complex North Main Street Historic District North Street Friends Meetinghouse Otis, Job and Deborah, House Owasco Reformed Church Richardson, William, House Sager House Sand Beach Church Schine Auburn Theatre Seneca River Crossing Canals Historic District Sennett Federated Church and Parsonage Seward, William H., House Sherwood Equal Rights Historic District South Street Area Historic District St. Peter's Episcopal Church Complex Sterling District No. 5 Schoolhouse Sterling Grist Mill Complex Thompson AME Zion Church Tryon, Frank and Eliza, House Tubman Home for the Aged, Harriet Tubman Residence, Thompson A.M.E. Zion Church (Boundary Increase) Tubman, Harriet, Grave Tubman, Harriet, House Tuthill-Green House US Post Office, Former, and Federal Courthouse Wall Street Methodist Episcopal Church West High School Willard Memorial Chapel-Welch Memorial Hall Willard, Dr. Sylvester, Mansion Wood, Jethro, House Yawger, Peter, House
New York State was home to several utopian communities in the 19th century, including the Oneida Community in central New York, which practiced communal living and free love, and the Shakers, who were known for their furniture and craftsmanship.
New York random facts
Cayuga County, located in central New York, has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. The area was traditionally inhabited by the Iroquois Confederacy, with the Cayuga tribe being the dominant force in the region. European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, leading to the establishment of Cayuga County in 1799.

During the early years of European settlement, Cayuga County experienced rapid growth and development. The construction of the Erie Canal in the 1820s further fueled this growth, as it provided a vital transportation route for goods and people. The canal brought economic prosperity to the county, attracting industries and new settlers. Auburn, the county seat and largest city, became a prominent center of commerce and industry.

Cayuga County also played a significant role in the abolitionist movement and the fight against slavery. Auburn was the home of many prominent abolitionist leaders, including Harriet Tubman and William H. Seward. Tubman, an escaped slave herself, famously operated the Underground Railroad and helped free numerous enslaved people. The county's commitment to the abolitionist cause earned it the nickname "The Banner County of the Empire State."

In the 20th century, Cayuga County continued to evolve and adapt to changing times. The decline of the canal system and the rise of automobile travel led to a shift in the county's economy. Agriculture became less dominant, and industries such as manufacturing and tourism became more important. Today, Cayuga County is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, charming small towns, and vibrant cultural scene.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Cayuga County, New York.

  • 1789 - Cayuga County is established in the state of New York.
  • 1800 - The town of Auburn is officially incorporated.
  • 1807 - The Auburn State Prison, the first maximum security prison in the United States, opens.
  • 1823 - Auburn Theological Seminary, later known as Auburn Seminary, is founded.
  • 1833 - Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist and political activist, escapes from slavery in Maryland and later settles in Auburn.
  • 1857 - The Cayuga County Courthouse, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is completed.
  • 1877 - The New York State Equal Rights Party, the first women's suffrage political party in the United States, is founded in Cayuga County.
  • 1902 - Auburn Prison becomes the site of the first execution by electrocution using the electric chair.
  • 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote, is ratified.
  • 1950s - Cayuga County experiences significant population growth and expansion of industries.
  • 1980s - The Cayuga Indian Nation gains recognition and begins to assert land claims in the area.
  • 2000 - The city of Auburn celebrates its bicentennial.