Experience Ithaca:

History Buff's Itinerary

Ithaca is rich in history--local, regional, and geological! Start with breakfast at the Ithaca Bakery , with its retro neon glow dating back to the 1950s. Then head north on Route 96 to the Museum of the Earth at PRI, where history begins.   Be prepared to step back in time to see the Hyde Park Mastodon and the Right Whale Skeleton. This extraordinary, national-class museum offers award-winning architecture, hands-on experiences like working with fossils at the Discovery Stations, and a unique gift shop. Back downtown Ithaca, be sure to visit The History Center in Tompkins County to explore your own genealogical ties to the area, or to enjoy displays and the book store. You can walk a block to The Commons, an historic place, too, with used book stores, and architecture representative of several eras. Enjoy lunch or dinner at Simeon's , a turn-of-the century site with historically named sandwiches. In the evening, catch a show at the historic State Theatre or enjoy an intimate theatrical experience at The Kitchen Theatre , housed in The Clinton House, which also offers a Visitors' Center and a peek at the unique Mural Lounge .