Utica, New York - Arts, History, and Culture

Arts, History, and Culture

• Adirondack Scenic Railroad and Union Station —

• The Children’s Museum — Open throughout the year, The Children's Museum of History, Natural History, Science and Technology is a hands-on learning center with emphasis on local history, environmental science, the arts, and space science that attracts local visitors and global tourists. Located in the historic Baggs Square East section of downtown Utica, the five story brick building, constructed in 1890, was originally a dry goods company. Four of its floors, each 6,000 square feet (560 m2), contain hundreds of interactive exhibits. It is a NYS and Federally designated historic building. Among the most popular of its hundred of interactive exhibits are a life-size wooden train, an LED dance floor, live radio and weather rooms, a real airplane which children can explore, and a large HO and Lionel train exhibit visitors can operate via foot pedals.
• The Landmarks Society of Greater Utica —

• National Distance Running Hall of Fame — On July 11, 1998, a hall of fame was established to honor the athletes who have lent their names and achievements to defining the sport of distance running.
• Mohawk Valley Ballet — This ballet company was formed in 1974 by Delia Foley. It is a strict and rigorous company in which students ages 5–18 are taught under the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum where they are examined once a year to assess their level of achievement. The company is pre-professional and the students can perform in both the fall production of The Nutcracker and the spring production. Both are performed at the historic Stanley Theater of Performing Arts in Utica. The Mohawk Valley Ballet reaches out to the community in more ways than one. The company most recently made a partnership with Upstate Cerebral Palsy in which students from the dance company teach children with special needs, ages 3–6 the basics in dance. The program has been overwhelmingly successful, winning a Pepsi refresh grant to fund each child's uniform for dance as well as allowing them to attend the performances the Mohawk Valley Ballet produces. The program has allowed children from Upstate Cerebral Palsy to even participate in the performances of the Ballet Company. The Mohawk Valley Ballet truly reaches out to the Mohawk Valley in a variety of ways and impacts the art in the community greatly each year.

• Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute — Founded in 1919 as "an artistic, musical and social center", The Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Museum of Art features a renowned permanent collection, rotating exhibitions and community art education for adults, teens and children. The Institute is named for three generations of one Utica family, whose philanthropy and civic pride is still enjoyed today. The campus, located on 10 acres (40,000 m2) in downtown Utica, features a variety of restored historic homes surrounding an International-style gallery building (circa 1960) designed by world famous architect Philip Johnson (who considered it to be his finest work), and Fountain Elms a superb Victorian-era Italianate mansion, once the home of the Williams family. These landmark buildings were connected by the construction of the Education Wing in 1995 and both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, PrattMWP was opened to offer a nationally accredited college program in association with Pratt Institute of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
• Oneida County Historical Society — Founded in 1876, The Oneida County Historical Society collects and commemorates the history of Central New York in general and County of Oneida in particular.
• Players of Utica —
• Sculpture Space — Sculpture Space is unique in North America as the only international, artist-in-residency program dedicated exclusively to professional sculptors. Founded in 1975 in the former Utica Steam Engine and Boiler Works building, the organization selects 20 artists each year for two-month, funded residencies which have helped to advance the careers of more than 400 national and international artists. Annual events include the CHAIRity Auction and a Mardi Gras Party.
• The Stanley Center for the Arts — The Stanley Center for the Arts is located in a fully restored 2,945 seat Mexican-baroque movie palace (circa 1928), which was designed by prolific theater architect Thomas Lamb for the Mastbaum chain of theaters. The theatre, originally named for Stanley Mastbaum, is currently a vital piece of the regional arts scene as the home of The Great Artist Series, Broadway Theater League, Utica Symphony, and touring shows. The Stanley is owned and operated by The Central New York Community Arts Council (CNYCAC). That same organization was responsible both for its rescue from the wrecking ball in 1974 as well as the professional, historically sensitive restoration to its former grandeur. CNYCAC recently completed a major stage house and facility expansion project. The theatre reopened in the spring of 2008, immediately hosting live music acts and performances by the Broadway Theatre League.

• Utica Memorial Auditorium — The Utica Memorial Auditorium, or AUD is a 4,000 seat multi-purpose arena (circa 1959) that was fully renovated in the 1990s. The Utica Devils, one-time farm affiliate of the NHL New Jersey Devils, featured several future NHL stars. The "Utica Aud" now hosts the Utica College Pioneers Division III Hockey Program. The men's hockey program set a NCAA Division III Men's Hockey attendance record for the 2007-2008, averaging 2,791 fans per game.
• The Utica Public Library — The origins of the Utica Public Library date back to 1825, when it was a private lending collection. By 1899 it was decided to build a permanent facility, and Thomas R. and Frederick T. Proctor donated the land on Genesee Street, W.P. White started the building fund, and the citizens of Utica voted to help finance the project. Utica native Arthur Jackson of the New York City firm Carrère and Hastings won the architectural competition to design the building. Important features include its red brick and Indiana limestone façade, barrel vaulted main hall, grand staircases, large pediment over the entranceway, two-story columns and the impressive front grounds. The Utica Public Library building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. By the 1980s, major improvements to the building itself were required, along with the installation of an on-line computer system to electronically access the holdings of the local library, all the libraries in the Mid-York Library System, and some area colleges. These projects were all completed by the early 2000s. On December 12, 2004 the Utica Public Library celebrated its Centennial Anniversary of the building, and today boasts over 192,000 items in the collection. In 2008, it was the site of the first annualMayor's Charity Ball.
• The Utica Symphony Orchestra — On March 25, 1932, a group of interested citizens met at the Utica Public Library and founded the Utica Civic Musical Society, now known as the Utica Symphony Orchestra. The Society had a large chorus and symphony orchestra, both under the direction of Berrian R. Shute. George M. Weaver, Jr. served as the first president of the Society. In 1933, Nicholas Gualillo and 60 musicians reorganized into the Utica Symphonic Orchestra. In 1935 the Utica Civic and the Utica Symphonic merged, and from 1935 to 1940, Shute and Gualillo acted as joint conductors of the new Utica Orchestra. This orchestra remained under the auspices of the Civic Musical Society which announced that its chief aim was to broaden the circle of concert goers in Utica and vicinity. In 1983 the name of the organization was changed to Utica Symphony, Inc. In 2011, debt, staff cuts and the resignation of longtime conductor Chuck Schneider have silenced the Utica Symphony Orchestra in its 100th year.
• The Utica Zoo — The Utica Zoo has served the region for over 88 years. Located in Roscoe-Conkling Park, the zoo is part of the Parkway Recreational Complex made possible by the donation of land from Thomas R. Proctor in 1909. The zoo has grown from its small beginnings with three fallow deer to its present collection of over 200 animals. Of the 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land set aside for the zoo's use, 35 are presently developed. The Zoo is home to the world's largest watering can. The 2,000 pound can is 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) in height and 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter.
• Utica Monday Nite — Utica Monday Nite was initiated in 1997, with the mission to promote a regional arts economy by making the arts and humanities available and accessible to all Utica residents and visitors from the wider region. Utica Monday Nite presents a summer arts and humanities festival in downtown parks and public spaces on thirteen Monday nights from June through August. Events and activities are offered free to the public.
• The Hotel Utica — The Hotel Utica (circa 1912) was originally built as a 10-story building of fireproof construction with 200 rooms, four dining rooms, a ballroom, an assembly hall, a restaurant for ladies and a grill and cafe for gentlemen. The top four floors were added in 1926, which increased the total number of rooms to 250. Famous guests included: Judy Garland, Mickey Mantle, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Hopalong Cassidy, Mae West, Bobby Darin, and then current U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. As business declined, the hotel ceased operating in 1972. It then became two adult care residences, the Hunter House and then Loretto Adult Residence. After a period of vacancy, it was purchased by local investors Joseph R. Carucci and Charles N. Gaetano. They undertook a $13 million dollar rehabilitation from 1999-2001 that was patterned on the restoration of The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. In 2001, The Hotel Utica became a member of The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Hotels of America. After years of Carucci and Gaetano failing to pay property and school taxes, and falling behind on the remaining $6.3 million on what originally was a $5 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development loan, the hotel remains for sale, and sits currently on the City of Utica's foreclosure list. The Hotel Utica is a member of the reservation company Choice Hotels International.
• Parks System — Utica's Park system began to expand during the late 19th Century. A committee was formed at this time to create more parks within the city. Thomas R. Proctor a local wealthy resident of Utica purchased over 316 acres (1.28 km2) of land. Proctor then hired well renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to develop his newly acquired land into parks. In 1905, Proctor in turn donated the land to Utica increasing the city park system to 515 acres (2.08 km2). The Utica Parks and Parkway Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.