Took a 4 day jaunt to New York City. Started at Syracuse Airport and found the Airport to be one of the nicest and cleanest airports I have ever visited. It reminded me of my favorite airport, Daytona Beach, only four times the size. People were friendly, and helpful with only a spattering of retail shops and restaurants.

Hats off to Syracuse Airport. Go Orange.

The one thing that stood out at their Airport was their Escape Pod. Nice touch.

What a beautiful spring day I had for this visit. All trees and flowers were in bloom. The campus is a work of art.

The University is a campus surrounded by gorges and waterfalls.. Adjacent to the Museum is a bridge overlooking one of the many Ithaca waterfalls.

One must remember Cornell began as an agriculture school so you will find botanical gardens and arboretums as well as rows upon rows of greenhouses. Much agriculture research is conducted here. Get a map of the University at the Visitor Center in Ithaca, or Campus Store. Parking can be challenging but there are lots available.

All that said, let’s take in the campus buildings.

The Student Center – stop in to view the murals, fireplaces.

The Chapel – a must see. The stained glass, ceilings, mausoleums of the University founders were exquisite.

Stained glass tribute to 3 students who were slain during the 1964 Voter Registration Drive in Mississippi.

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And don’t forget to stop at the Campus Store adjacent to the Chapel to pick up some Cornell memorabilia.

They have a great clearance section in the back of the Store.

What an amazing Museum situated on Cayuga Lake.. If visiting the Museum start at the top level to capture the views. And for those unable here is a peek at what you are missing.

The Museum was donated by the SC Johnson Company of Johnson and Johnson fame which manufactures cleaning products. The individual who donated the Museum was a former alumni, and most of the works at the Museum were given by graduates or professors. The collection is amazing and has a vast range from ancient art to modern to Tiffany glass/lamps.

And the best part it was FREE ….

Let’s just get to it, and start with some ancient art.

This lovely work dates to 150-200 AD and is a funereal portrait head of a women in limestone donated by a 1916 graduate. It is of Roman Syria descent.

From 460 AD this mosaic of a rooster was exquisite. Often the floors and walls of Roman buildings held these pieces. The rooster symbolizes Christ’s resurrection.

An OOrinthian helmet from 660 BC of Greek Origin.

Religious Art

Statute of St. Anne with Mother and Child from the 1500’s. This was carved from a single block of oak.

And a shout out to St Michael in this lovely work from the 15th century.

Asian Art

Yakshi with a love letter in hand from the 11th century, sandstone. Have never seen an Indian work with a voluptuous body such as this. Unique.

Some oils from the 1600-1700’s..

A Flemish work from Gilliss Peeters circa 1600’s. Dutch Ships Approaching the New World.

Another master – Dutch Cornelis van Spaendonck, Still Life of Flowers, 1793.

Modern Art

There is much modern art at the Museum with walls filled with works such as these.

Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright had a small exhibit of their works.

And lastly, there was an exhibit with local Indian art.

A Shaman Mask, 20th century.

If you have the chance to visit plan on a 2-3 hours as there is much to view.

One final glimpse at nature from inside the Museum.

Central New York is in the process of developing a Film Trail Museum. Much of this comes from the work of Auburn man Theodore Case who developed “talkies.” In Ithaca they are beginning a museum exhibit surrounding silent film stars. Went to this museum to check out this piece of the Trail, but sadly only a wall of silent film actors pictures were present. Was hoping for some actual movies, but am sure that is to come..

Here’s some of the actors who worked in this genre.

Perhaps the most famous is Lionel Barrymore – a relative of our beloved Drew Barrymore.

And what a handsome man he was!

And this beauty sadly came to an end early in her life, and this story remains a mystery..

This exhibit has the potential for a fascinating look back in film history…

As a former administrator with the New York State Department of Corrections for 13 years I conducted hundreds of prison site visits. At the time I was responsible for the health records in 71 correctional facilities, and attempted to see each prison, annually, and some more frequently. Sad note on society to have that many prisons, however, now I believe the number has dwindled to 54 New York State correctional facilities, and hopefully that number will decrease further in the next decade. All that said whenever I have the chance to visit a prison, especially one from a bygone era, I jump at the chance. This was the case at the Wayne County Historical Museum, which also was a prison in the 1850-1950 era.

The Museum was also the jailer’s home as well as a prison. Sheriff’s served a 2 year term but after that they often remained as a Deputy. Side view of the home reveals the prison exterior.

The stairs connecting the cell blocks to the Sheriff’s home.

The Cell block

Some interesting facts:

• Sentencing was done by a circuit judge who visited the area twice a year. If incarcerated, the prisoner would wait 6 months till the circuit judge arrived.
• The sheriff’s wife fed the inmates twice a day. Below is the stairs she walked to carry inmate food. What a woman! Forgot to ask if she was paid for this, however, doubtful.

• There were no toilets till 1917, prior to that there was a pot on the floor.

• In 1947, women and men’s cells were separated with women on the top block and men on the bottom.
• The only executed inmate in the county occurred at this prison. He was an Irishman who killed a woman who was traveling solo along the road.

The actual gallows used.

What really fascinated me was the art work which remains on the jail walls. Unsure of the dates but take a look.

The weapons used in the prisoner’s acts.

The Sheriff at his post.

Sheriff Collins served for 51 years and captured the famous American train robber Oliver Curtis Perry.

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Next Blog: More of this interesting museum – you never know what you’ll find when you travel!