Vestal Museum

The Vestal Museum is a department of the Town of Vestal and is an organization dedicated to the preservation and presentation of local history. The Vestal Museum serves as the repository of local artifacts and archives. Public education is accomplished through collection care, exhibits and public and school programs. Museum programs are developed in cooperation with Vestal Historical Society members and community volunteers.

Along with being an exhibition space and gallery, The Vestal Museum is a public space where people are welcome to spend a quiet hour reading, or use as a shared work space. Artists should feel welcome to set up shop during museum hours to paint and sketch. We have two public computers and wifi on hand. The museum can be a meeting place for book clubs, child play groups, or any other group who needs a space to meet. And we will make you a cup of tea or coffee.

Built in 1881, the D.L. & W. depot at Vestal opened in time for the first scheduled passenger train on October 3rd. Abandoned after the 1960 merger of the D.L. & W and Erie railroads, the station was used as a warehouse until the Town of Vestal purchased it for $201 to use as a Museum. On a cold, snowy December day in 1972 the depot was moved to the library campus where four years of restoration by the Town and Vestal Historical Society began. On June 4, 1976, the depot opened as the town Museum under the stewardship of the Historical Society.

The same Carpenter Gothic style was used for other depots on both the D.L. & W. and Erie lines. Restoration of the 73 foot long depot included replacing rotted siding, installing a new bathroom, replacing the furnace, constructing stairs to the basement, adding decking for easy access, repairing the slate roof, and finishing with a good coat of paint. The depot remains largely unchanged after 136 years and it still promises adventure to all who enter.

The building was designated a local historic landmark in 2012.

Exhibits

Join the Vestal Museum for the 6th Annual Haudenosaunee Festival on September 17th, 2022 from 10AM to 5PM.
Schedule as follows:
10AM - Witness to Injustice Program
12:45PM - Welcoming remarks
1PM - Alf Jacques and Bob Carpenter (commentary and film showing)
2PM - Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner
3PM - Angela Ferguson
4PM - Tony Gonyea Q&A
4:30PM - Curtis Waterman

There will be authentic artisans and cuisine all located inside and outside of the Vestal Museum during the festival.

The Vestal Museum would like to respectfully acknowledge that the land we gather on is on Onondaga territory. We are incredibly grateful for the relationships we have built through the Haudenosaunee Festival over the years and thank those who participate/have educated us through the planning process.

We would like to express our gratitude to our sponsors, to which this would not happen without. A huge thank you to Binghamton University, Broome County Arts Council, Visions Federal Credit Union and The Vestal Historical Society for making this event possible.

The Vestal Museum is located at 328 Vestal Parkway E, Vestal NY next to the Vestal Public Library.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.