Tours
The 1890 House
The 1890 House is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:00am to 4:00pm, and on Sunday from 12:00pm (noon) to 4:00pm.
Guided tours (subject to availability) are the best way to explore the house. Visitors are advised to book in advance in order to guarantee a tour spot, although walk-ins are also welcome.
House guides will walk you through four floors of the house. Tours last approximately 60 to 90 minutes, and cover the Wickwire family history, servant life, and social customs of the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
House Admission
(Includes House Admission, Guided Tour, and/or Self Guided Tour)
Adults – $15
Seniors – $12
Military – $10
Students – $10
Children 6-18 – $5
Children 5 & younger – free when accompanied by an adult
*The 1890 House Museum is a Blue Star Museum which offers free admission to our nation’s active-duty military and their families from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Guided tours are subject to availability. Visitors are advised to book in advance to guarantee a tour spot.
Click here and book your tour now
Please note that tours go upstairs to the second and third floors, as well as up to the cupola. Upstairs floors are unfortunately not accessible. Please contact the museum in advance for an accessibility-friendly tour.
Also, please note that the 1890 House Museum is continually undergoing restoration/preservation projects that occasionally may interfere with the museum’s normal operating hours. If traveling from afar, please call 607-756-7551 to confirm your visit and/or book in advance.
Private Tours
Group tours are available for 10 or more people. Larger tours must be scheduled in advance by calling 607-756-7551 or emailing [email protected]
*Chaperones are free of charge for school groups. For more information about school tours please visit our Education page.
Support Cortland's Landmark Building
The impressive collections found throughout the 1890 House Museum offer visitors the opportunity to step back in time to 19th century Cortland. The unique history within the walls tells the stories of the Wickwire family, their servants, and the factory workers who toiled in Wickwire Wire Mills Factory.
The museum strives to educate and inspire every visitor through diverse programming and exhibitions. With your help, this Cortland County landmark will be preserved for present and future generations.
OPEN HOURS
Thursdays - Saturdays
11 am – 4 pm
Sundays
12 pm - 4 pm
(C) THE 1890 HOUSE MUSEUM
SUPPORT CORTLAND'S HISTORIC BUILDING
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
What does the 1890 House mean to you?
Some say it is a jewel in our crown city, showcasing Victorian culture, as well as the Wickwire family’s legacy in our community. We agree, but as with any jewel, it needs great care and polishing. And for The 1890 House, that means upkeep and repairs to an ever-aging house.
Because of this, the current Board of Trustees has embarked on a $250,000 Capital Campaign.
We have identified three long-overdue projects and repairs that need attention:
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- "Carriage House" (Barn) including a new roof, window repairs, and painting;
- The 1890 House Exterior including stonework repairs and painting; and
- The 1890 House Interior including restoration, plaster work and painting.
Please consider donating in one of these categories or make your own suggestion and help to preserve this local treasure and much-loved Cortland landmark for many generations to come.
$25: Can of paint
$50: Various restoration supplies
$100: Stone Repair (a la “Buy a Brick”)
$250: 10 hours of labor
$500: Equipment Rental
$1,000: Restore a window
$1,500: Restore a stained-glass window
$2,000: Restore a wood floor
$2,500: Paint a small room
$25,000: Adopt a large room
SUPPORT OUR FRAMING THE PAST PHOTO PROJECT
Founded in 1975, and receiving its NYS Charter as a historic house museum in 1984, the 1890 House Museum boasts an impressive collection of photographs. These photographs document the lives of the Wickwire family and their friends from the late 19th century through the 20th century. When inventor & industrialist Chester F. Wickwire moved into his home on June 1, 1890, he photographed each room as it was. These photographs have now been digitally preserved by Roger Theise from Roger Williams Photography. Some of these interior photos had never been on view to the public before.