Historic and Cultural Sites Commission

Mission

The mission of the City of Auburn’s Historic and Cultural Sites Commission is to support its designated organizations to achieve their missions through collaborative marketing, programming, and tourism strategies.

Vision

The vision of the Commission is to position Auburn as the destination of choice in the Finger Lakes through support and promotion of its history and culture.

History

The City of Auburn is rich in place-specific arts, cultural, and heritage offerings. These resources offer educational, inspirational and recreational benefits for present and future generations. Following the findings of a Historic Sites Task Force in 1999, the City Council initially created the Historic Sites Commission in 2000 to preserve and promote these resources through their identification, interpretation, development, and use. To view the original founders and activities of the Commission, see the 2001 State of the Sites program here. A transcription of the first two pages is here. Commission membership was revised in 2011. In 2018, the City of Auburn established the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, which fulfilled a goal of the initial commission: to establish a central visitor information center for the City.

In 2020, the Commission was renamed the “Historic and Cultural Sites Commission” and expanded its membership. The Commission has four key purposes:

  1. Development and oversight of a tourism strategy for the City of Auburn
  2. Development of a plan to link all historic and cultural sites in the City of Auburn for marketing and promotional purposes, including review and revision of all promotional literature and signage (including the Auburn Visitor Guide)
  3. Development of special programming and events among its partner sites (including First Friday, Harriet Tubman Day, Brave Brews, Passport to History, Pride, Summer Homecoming, Holiday Traditions, and special commemorative programming such as America 250)
  4. Maintaining a central Visitor Information Center that serves as its headquarters (the ERHC)
 
Membership in the Historic and Cultural Sites Commission includes: the Willard Memorial Chapel; the Seward House Museum; the Harriet Tubman Home; the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, Case Research Lab and Carriage House Theater; the Auburn Public Theater; the Schweinfurth Art Center; the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park; Fort Hill Cemetery; Seymour Public Library; the REV Theatre Company; Historic South Street; Auburn Downtown Partnership; Tour Cayuga; the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce; the Auburn Enlarged City School District; the City Historian; the Cayuga County Historian; and the City of Auburn Mayor and City Clerk.
 
For more information on the Commission, visit the City of Auburn website.
 

State of the Sites

On October 15, 2026, the Commission celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first State of the Sites presentation to the public. State of the Sites brings Auburn’s historic and cultural organizations together to share recent accomplishments, preservation projects, and future plans while highlighting the important role that tourism plays in our community and local economy. Each year, thousands of visitors come to Auburn to experience its museums, theaters, libraries, historic landmarks, and cultural attractions. These organizations not only preserve the community’s history but also support local businesses, restaurants, hotels, and shops, helping strengthen Auburn’s economy and quality of life.

The program consisted of opening remarks by NYS Senator Rachel May and Mayor Jimmy Giannettino and presentations by Commission Chair Sydney Fischer, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NY Scenic Byway Executive Director Ally Spongr-Degon, and Tour Cayuga Executive Director Courtney Kasper. This program was made possible by the generous support of Tour Cayuga, the Auburn Hilton Garden Inn, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Scat Van, ArtCraft Press, Simple Roast Coffee, and Auburn Bagel Company. The State of the Sites is presented in partnership with the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce. Watch the full presentation, filmed by Auburn Regional Media Access, below.

State of the Sites Program

Download the 2026 State of the Sites program here.

HCSC Contacts

For information regarding the Commission, please contact the Visitor Experience Manager (VEM) of the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, Kate Grindstaff.

Commission Chair

Sydney Fischer, Executive Director of the Community Preservation Committee and Willard Memorial Chapel

Commission Administrator

Kate Grindstaff, Visitor Experience Manager of the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center