History of the Finger Lakes
A Place of Legends
To the indigenous people of the Finger Lakes region, this area was a place of mystery and beauty. So great was their love for their home, they believed that the lakes had been handmade by a greater power. According to local legend, the Great Spirit looked favorably upon the land and reached down to bless it, leaving behind the imprint of hands.
Shining Waters Everywhere You Look
The eleven pristine lakes that make up the Finger Lakes are located at the heart of New York state. During the last Ice Age, roughly two million years ago, glaciers covered most of North America. As the glaciers melted and retreated, the ground beneath was carved out, leaving behind the long and narrow lakes, waterfalls, and deep gorges that we know today. The glaciers had such an impact on this region that many of the geologic anomalies found here aren’t found in many other places. The drumlins that line Lake Ontario and the unique Y shape of Keuka Lake are just two examples.
In alphabetical order, the lakes are Canadice, Canandaigua, Cayuga, Conesus, Hemlock, Honeoye, Keuka, Otisco, Owasco, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Historically there has been a debate over what size constituted a major and a minor Finger Lake, leaving some neighboring lakes to be nicknamed the “fingernails”. But no matter the shape of size, all of the lakes have something unique to offer the region and are loved equally.
But these aren’t the only lakes in the area. Along the northern border of the Finger Lakes region lies Lake Ontario, the smallest of the Great Lakes in terms of surface area. The name Ontario comes from the Huron word “ontarí’io,” meaning “lake of shining waters.”
Cutting across the region is the historic Erie Canal. Nicknamed the “waterway that changed the country”, it was once the lifeblood of the people who lived here and depended on the canal for travel and trade. These days much of the canal is open for recreational use. Residents and visitors alike love boating, canoeing, and kayaking along the canal. With the recent completion of the Empire State Trail, folks can also hike and bike alongside the entire length of the Erie Canal.
Invention, Innovation, and Inspiration
Throughout history, the Finger Lakes region has been home to some incredible people. Innovators. Abolitionists. Suffragists. Activists. Inventors. Writers. Some of the most impactful moments in American history over the past few centuries have been made in the Finger Lakes. And history continues to be made every single day.
Historic milestones including the invention of sound in movies, the first Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, and the birth of Mormonism all happened here. Exploring the Finger Lakes is like walking through the pages of American history.
The list of influential people from our region’s history is endless. Some of the most notable figures who called the Finger Lakes their home (or second home) include…
- William Seward, New York Governor, Congressman, Secretary of State under President Lincoln
- Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist, soldier, political activist, philanthropist
- Frederick Douglass, American abolitionist, political activist
- Susan B Anthony, suffragist, women’s rights activist, social reformer
- Matilda Joselyn Gage, suffragist, Native American rights activist, abolitionist
- Mark Twain, author, humorist
- George Eastman, entrepreneur, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company
- Glenn H Curtiss, American aviation and motorcycling pioneer, a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry
- Mary Jemison, Native American rights activist
- William Pryor Letchworth, businessman and philanthropist
Wine, Beer, and Spirits
If there is one food or drink product most associated with the Finger Lakes region, it has to be wine. Grape growing and wine making is a substantial part of Finger Lakes history, with the first recorded vineyard in Hammondsport in 1829. Today the region boasts nearly 150 wineries across the eleven lakes, each bringing a unique perspective to the wine-making industry. The wine-centric Finger Lakes region has been compared to that of the Rhine Valley in Germany.
The Finger Lakes region is the largest and most acclaimed winemaking region in the Eastern US. And it keeps growing. The natural landscape of the area makes for prime grape growing. The steep slopes surrounding the lakes provide natural drainage for rainwater during the spring and summer growing seasons. Meanwhile the extreme depth of the lakes extends the growing season by moderating the region’s cool autumns with warming fog. The southern shores of Lake Ontario also lend themselves to wine growing for the same reasons.
Of all the varieties of wines made in the Finger Lakes, the Riesling stands out the most, having won numerous awards over the years. Local winemakers continue to expand on that success, experimenting with and producing other varieties of exceptional wine, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer. Most recently, several wineries have implemented more eco-friendly practices into their vineyards and tasting rooms, ensuring the land and its resources flourish for years to come.
The Finger Lakes is also home to the first bonded winery in the United States, Pleasant Valley Wine Company (established in 1860) as well as the oldest wine trail in the country, Cayuga Lake Wine Trail (established in 1983).
With the popularity and success of the region’s wine industry, other craft beverages quickly followed. There are now over 80 breweries, distilleries, and cideries scattered across the Finger Lakes region. In fact, the first brewery in New York state, Genesee Brewing Company, was founded in Rochester in 1878.
