Historical Markers in
Chautauqua County, New York

102 Buffalo Street & 802 Lakeview Avenue 11 Lakeview Avenue 127 Lakeview Avenue 134 Lakeview Avenue 15 East Fifth Street 211 Lakeview Avenue 212 Van Buren Street 28 Liberty Street 410 North Main Street 416 Lakeview Avenue 502 Lakeview Avenue 509 Lakeview Avenue 540 Lakeview Avenue 543 Lakeview Avenue 629 Winsor Street 904 Lakeview Avenue 907 Lakeview Avenue 924 Lakeview Avenue 934 Lakeview Avenue Abell Inn Site All Gave Some Alonzo Hereford Cushing American Aristotype Company American Revolution American Revolution Amos Sottle Ashville Ashville Bell At This Point Aull Cottage Automatic Voting Machines B-24 Bomber Crash B.P.O. Elks Baker Park Baker Street Airfield Barcelona Harbor Barcelona Light House Barker Common Before White Men Came Bemus Point - Stow Ferry Bemus Point Hotels Bemus Point Library Birds of the Harbor Birmingham Auto Birthplace of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich Birthplace of Lucille Ball Birthplace of Mary Smith Lockwood Blackstone Corporation Broadhead Power House Brocton Arch Brooklyn Square Cdr. Harry B. Lyon D.D.S. Celoron Expedition Celoron Veterans Memorial Charles Justin Bailey Chautauqua Avenue, Looking North to Lake Chautauqua Avenue, Looking South Chautauqua County Political Equality Club Chautauqua Flower Fields Chautauqua Lake Region Chautauqua Lake Stock Farm Commander William B. Cushing Crescent Tool Company Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company De Longueuil Expedition Dedicated 1975 Dedicated to All Dedicated to Corporal Cyrus W. James Dedicated to the Men and Women Dedicated to Veterans Dexterville Tavern Donald McKenzie Dunkirk Lighthouse Dunkirk Parade Duty Honor Country Early Settlers of Portland, Westfield & Ripley Eastern Basin Shipwrecks Ebenezer Skellie Edith M. Ainge Ehmke Family Home Ellen Y. Miller Erected in Honor Evelynn M. Crandall Everett R. Burmaster Farming and Industrial Development Findley Lake, N.Y. First Bank First Burial Ground First Campus of Jamestown Community College First Cheese Factory First Congregational Church First Courts First Furniture Factory First Grist Mill First Kent House and Second Kent House First Presbyterian Church and Society First Sash Factory First Settler First Settlers First Train First Train First Woolen Mill Fortified Village of Erie Indians Fredonia #1 Frew House George F. Abbott Gertrude A. Williams Great Fire of 1861 Gustavus Adolphus Children's Home Harriet Campbell-Taylor House Here Stood a Station Here Stood a Station of the Underground Railroad Here the First School House Home of Reuben E. Fenton Home of William J. Maddox Honoring Hundred Acre Lot In Grateful Tribute In Honor In Honor of All Those Citizens In Honor of the Service In Honor of Those Who Served In Memoriam In Memory In Memory of Those Indian Camp Jack W. Brunson James Prendergast James Prendergast Jamestown Furniture Exposition Building Jamestown Oak Jamestown Shale Paving Brick Co. Keelboat Landing Kennedy Mills Keyes' Carpenter Shop Lakeview House, Sterlingworth Hotel and Lakewood Country Club Lakewood Honor Roll Lakewood Schools Lakewood Station on Erie Railroad Lakewood Village Hall Land Office Large Anchor Large Ice House Lewis Miller Cottage Lily Dale Assembly Log Cabin 1810 Log Dwelling Mayville Station McClurg Park Memorial Miller Park Naetzker Garden New Holbrook Hotel New York State Fish Hatchery Oldest Settled Property in Chautauqua County On September 26, 1812 Packard Mansion Palestine Park Panama Rocks Paul Sorg Mansion Peter Ripley Residence Pier Building Pioneer Home Pioneer Settlers Policeman George Kendall POW★MIA Public Market Quaker School Red Bird Tavern Ripley Veterans' Roll of Honor Monument Robert H. Jackson Robert H. Jackson Roger Tory Peterson Roll-O-Bowl Samuel A. Carlson Sarah Sinfield Ships and Shipwrecks at Lake Erie State Park Site of Ahlstrom Piano Company Site of Farm of William Crossgrove 1807 Site of First Settlement Site of Gurney Ball Bearing Co. Site of Jamestown Female Seminary Site of Methodist Church Site of Pail Factory Site of Scott Tavern Site of Sheridan Depot of the New York & Erie Railroad Site of the Foote Home Site of the New York State Armory Skew Arch Spanish-American War Memorial Stage Stop Steamboat Landing Steamship Erie Susan B. Anthony Tadeusz Kosciuszko Tew Mansion The Car Barns The First Exchange of Hostilities The First Metal Furniture Factory The First Newspaper The First Store The First Theater The First Town Meeting The French & Indian War 1756-1763 The Holland Land Company Vault The Home of Reuben E. Fenton The Jamestown Academy The Jamestown Underground Railroad Tableau The King from Hanover The Land Around Us The Lighthouse Service The Lincoln Maple The Lincoln-Bedell Statue Park The Lost Neighborhood The Mack House The Old Portage Road The Packards The Pioneer Cemetery The Site of the First Gas Well The Swift Mansion The Underground Railroad These Concord Grape Vines These Mill Stones This Tower Thurston Block To All That Served Honorably To All Who Served To the Perpetual Memory Tourgee Home Town of Gerry Veterans Memorial Train Depot Transportation Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial / Revolutionary War Memorial Walter Brown Walter Edward Washington War on Terrorism Memorial West Third Street Bridge What Does "Chautauqua" Mean? WWI Memorial "Allen's Opera House" "Gokey Fire" "Ong-Gwe-Ohn-Weh"
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
Chautauqua County, located in western New York State, has a rich and colorful history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by the Erie people, a Native American tribe, until the 17th century when European settlers began to arrive. The region was officially formed as Chautauqua County in 1811, named after the beautiful Chautauqua Lake that lies within its borders.

In the early years, the county primarily relied on agriculture and timber industries for its economic growth. As the Erie Canal was completed in the 1820s, it opened up new opportunities for trade and transportation, allowing the county to expand its reach. With the arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century, Chautauqua County's industries boomed, attracting more settlers and leading to the establishment of numerous towns and villages.

During the late 19th century, Chautauqua County became famous for its Chautauqua Institution, a center for education and cultural activities. The Chautauqua Institution attracted intellectuals, artists, and scholars from around the country, providing a platform for open discussions on various topics including politics, religion, and social issues. This institution played a significant role in the popularization of the Chautauqua Movement, a nationwide movement that aimed to promote lifelong learning and personal growth.

In the early 20th century, Chautauqua County's economy diversified further with the rise of manufacturing industries, such as furniture, textiles, and machinery. Many of these industries thrived until the mid-20th century, when economic changes and globalization led to a decline in manufacturing jobs. However, the county has since adapted and shifted towards a more service-based economy, including tourism, healthcare, and education.

Today, Chautauqua County continues to embrace its history while forging ahead in the modern world. The county's natural beauty, including its lakes, forests, and charming towns, attracts visitors year-round. It also remains an important cultural hub, hosting various festivals, museums, and art centers. Chautauqua County's blend of history, natural splendor, and contemporary amenities contribute to its unique character and make it a sought-after destination for residents and tourists alike.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Chautauqua County, New York.

  • 1803: Chautauqua County is founded
  • 1811: First European settlers arrive in the area
  • 1818: The Village of Mayville is incorporated
  • 1821: The Village of Westfield is incorporated
  • 1836: The City of Jamestown is incorporated
  • 1851: The Chautauqua Institution is established
  • 1875: The Dunkirk and Fredonia Railroad is completed
  • 1878: The Village of Fredonia is incorporated
  • 1892: The Chautauqua Grape Belt Association is formed
  • 1898: The Jamestown Chamber of Commerce is established
  • 1901: The Celoron Amusement Park opens
  • 1923: Chautauqua Lake freezes over completely for the first time on record
  • 1953: The Chautauqua County Historical Society is founded
  • 1960: The Chautauqua County Airport is opened
  • 1973: The Chautauqua Institution is designated a National Historic Landmark
  • 1992: The Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport is renamed the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport
  • 2006: The Chautauqua Rails to Trails project is completed
  • 2011: The National Comedy Center opens in Jamestown