The Discovery Trail Partnership, established in 1999, grew out of years of informal collaborations among museums and the public library in Tompkins County, NY to provide a structure for ongoing collaboration. At that time, the Partnership received seed funding to hire a part-time coordinator and launch initial collaborative marketing efforts. The eight current members include Cayuga Nature Center, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell Plantations, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Museum of the Earth at PRI, Sciencenter, The History Center of Tompkins County, and Tompkins County Public Library.

The Partnership maintains and promotes the Discovery Trail, a visible public linkage and co-marketing effort among the Partnership's eight members. To date, the Discovery Trail has pursued its goals through collaborative programming, a website (www.DiscoveryTrail.net), development and distribution of more than 30,000 brochures annually in Tompkins County, Southern Tier, Syracuse and Rochester, participation in community-wide events, editorial pieces, press releases, public service announcements, and advertising. The Partnership also carries out joint events, programs, and exhibitions. Examples include “A Special Place: Landscapes of Tompkins County” (2000), “Frankenstein” with community read (2002), “Discovery Month” (2003, 2004), and “Light in Winter 2004”. The Partnership coordinator works closely with the Tompkins County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau in all aspects of regional marketing.

The Discovery Trail Partnership is currently funded through Discovery Trail member contributions, Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Board, and the Triad Foundation (for Discovery Month-May, 2004). Our funds are held and distributed in partnership through the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.

Staff from the Partnership's member sites meet regularly and include the directors, public relations, education, exhibits, and gift shop managers. These meetings give Partnership professionals the opportunity to share information, resources, concerns, and new ideas to better serve our visitors.

The Discovery Trail Coordinator coordinates marketing, joint events, project development, programming, and staff linkages.