Baseball Hall of Fame
The village is pure Americana, a one-stoplight town nestled between the Adirondacks and the Catskills in Central New York. It drew its name from the family of James Fenimore Cooper – whose father, William, founded the village – whose works of literature have become American standards.
And yet Cooperstown has become a synonym for “baseball” – thanks to a story about a Civil War general and the country’s love for a timeless game.
By the last half of the 19th Century, baseball had become the National Pastime. The United States was a little more than 100 years old, and baseball had evolved with the country.
But there was no definitive answer as to the birth of the game.
Enter the Spalding Commission, a board created by sporting goods magnate and former player A.G. Spalding to establish the genesis of baseball. And after a few years of searching, they found their answer.
Ommegang Brewery
A tour, a tasting, or both… the choice is yours.
Our 20- to 30-minute tours cost $5 per person and offer a historic overview of Brewery Ommegang with a stroll through the brewhouse, lagering cellar and packaging hall. Questions are encouraged. Visitors aged five and up are welcome on the tour. Tours do require closed-toe shoes and covered shoulders. Please note the minimum age and dress requirements under our FAQs below.
Follow your tour with a guided tasting – sample up to six different Ommegang beers served by a knowledgeable guide. $10 per person.
After a tour and tasting, have a bite to eat in the café, the bar, or on the patio. Paired with any of our 20 beers on tap and more in bottles and cans, it’s an experience to savor.
The Farmers Museum
The Farmers' Museum is located in Cooperstown, New York, and is one of the best-known attractions in the town. Just north of Cooperstown, it overlooks Otsego Lake and recreates rural life from the 19th century through exhibits and interactive workshops. There are more than two dozen authentic, historic buildings on the grounds, including a tavern, a farmstead, a printing office, a pharmacy, a blacksmith's shop, a doctor's office and a general store. There are also exhibits of nineteenth-century games, a children's barnyard and the Cardiff Giant. The Farmers' Museum is home to the Empire State Carousel, a hand-crafted merry-go-round which celebrates New York State's history, culture and environment, built on a vintage 1947 36-foot Alan Herschell carousel mechanism.
Fenimore Art Museum
The Fenimore Art Museum is a museum located in Cooperstown, New York on the west side of Otsego Lake. Collection strengths include the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, American fine and folk art, 19th and early 20th century photography, as well as rare books and manuscripts. The museum's mission is to connect its audience to American and New York State cultural heritage by organizing exhibits and public programs that "engage, delight and inspire." The house organ was titled Heritage.
Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard
The Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard is a historic water-powered cider mill on the banks of Fly Creek. The marketplace at the mill had daily tastings of over 40 specialty foods, including fresh mill-made fudge, mill-aged extra-sharp cheddar cheese, salsa, apple wines and hard ciders. The mill pond has an observation deck with tables to get lunch from the restaurant and bakery, including ice cream delights and the famous cider float. The mill is open all year and located at the corner of CR 26 and Goose Street north of the hamlet of Fly Creek, New York, which is west of Cooperstown, New York.