On To The Next Step For A Proposed Museum In Downtown Oneonta

Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek’s vision of a downtown Children’s Museum cleared its first hurdle. A majority of participants at Monday’s meeting to discuss the proposal want to continue exploring the idea.

“It appears we got what we wanted,” Drnek told CNY News following a meeting at SUNY’s Morris Conference Center. “We will move forward.” Drnek wants to attract a new, younger generation to Oneonta. Drnek believes one way to recruit young families to Oneonta is “to present ourselves as a community that prizes its children.”

He believes a venue that provides entertainment and education focusing on Oneonta’s railroad history will help attract the target demographic of employed 25-to-39 year-olds.

Funding and location are issues that will be decided as the project moves forward. If it is going to happen, “it has to be a full-blown children’s museum and it has to have a corporate sponsor,” Community Development Director Judy Pangman said.

Some of the participants expressed concern that a new museum will compete for limited grant money or duplicate existing attractions. Marcela Micucci, executive director of the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, said GOHS’s Main Street building is undergoing renovations that will include a children’s area with an emphasis on Oneonta’s railroad past.

The organizations that participated in the discussion included the YMCA, For-Do, Hartwick’s Yager Museum, SUNY’s Science Discovery Center, Catskill Regional Teacher’s Association, Opportunities for Otsego, Greater Oneonta Historical Society, Destination Oneonta, and Oneonta World of Learning.

20 Upstate New York Museums That Will Have Your Kids Saying, "Wow! That Was Fun! Can We Go Back?"

New York State has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to museums. And we have featured many of them i previous galleries. This one takes a look at children's museums. Most kids will admit that a museum seems like an "old person thing to do." But these special places will have your kids saying, "Mom, can we go back? That was great!"

Here is a list of 20 New York State museums that kids and teenagers will enjoy to the fullest. They are all pretty much hands-on museums and all encourage interaction with the young visitors.

These museums lean heavy on hands-on science exhibits, play areas, and specialty programs for all ages. Take a look at this gallery and see which one fits your family's ages. From high school kids to programs geared to the littlest tykes you will find one that fits perfectly for your group.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

"Pretty As a Picture" 13 Great Upstate NY Art Museums

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

25 Fantastic New York State Parks Located in Upstate New York to Visit This Summer!

New York State has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to state parks. We have them all, big and small, water front and deep in the woods, and from all over including the Hudson Valley all the way out to Western New York. Millions attend these parks every year, both in the summer and winter. Here is a selection of 23 of the best state parks. Of course there are dozens more so please visit our Facebook page and give your favorite a shoutout if you don't see it on this list!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

Amazing! These 35 Upstate New York Businesses Have Been Around for 100 Years....and a Whole Lot More!

This is a remarkable list! These Upstate New York businesses have all been open for business for over 100, 150, 200 years and even longer! Incredible staying power here!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

The Ultimate Guide to 32 Of the Best Upstate New York Irish Pubs

There is nothing quite like a visit to an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day. Here are 32 of Upstate's "greenest" pubs!

There are all kinds of bars. Lounges, sports bars, dance club bars, etc. But there is something so warm and friendly, so old-timey, so "Cheers-like" about an Irish pub. Back in the day the denizens of these friendly places were usually blue collar working men and women who stopped at their neighborhood Irish bar to chat and visit after getting out of the local factory. On weekends the pub was crowded with happy people, our parents and grandparents, enjoying a sip, Bing Crosby on the jukebox, and a bowl of Irish stew.

Today, you are more than likely to find the demographics of an Irish pub a whole lot younger. And that is a good thing.

This gallery looks at 32 of the best Irish pubs in Upstate New York.

See you at one of them for St. Paddy's Day!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

Filed Under: Greater Oneonta Historical Society