Virtual Visits With Rochester’s Cultural Community

Many of Rochester’s cultural attractions are going digital to provide unique experiences for visitors and community members. Check out this list of some of the ways you can enjoy this content from the comfort of your home. Please note that this is a fluid list that is subject to change. 

The Strong Museum of Play 

Every day at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., The Strong Museum will be sharing exciting and educational content on its Facebook page! Be on the lookout for craft and play-at-home ideas, Q&As with experts, school lesson extensions, live story readings, and more. 

George Eastman Museum 

Check out the Eastman Museum at Home page for virtual tours, activities, online resources, and tutorials to keep you engaged and having fun. As new materials are created, they will be posting them here. You can visit the museum’s website to not only learn about George Eastman, but also the history of photography. The site’s “photography” section allows you to view 400,000 photographs with some images dating back to 1839.  

Rochester Museum & Science Center 

RMSC might be closed, but the thirst for curiosity still rages on! The institution will be adding educational resources and fun science activities that you can do at home to their website and social media pages.

Ganondagan State Historic Site 

Take guided virtual tour with one of Ganondagan's interpretive staff to learn more about the life of the Seneca and Haudenosaunee culture. Virtual tours can be set up via Skype or Zoom. To learn more and to schedule a tour, visit the Ganondagan website.  

Memorial Art Gallery 

Journey through 5,000 years of human creativity: from the treasures of antiquity to 21st-Century masterworks by visiting the Memorial Art Gallery’s website and YouTube channel. When visiting the website, you can virtually explore the museum’s entire collection under the “art” drop down menu. 

The Memorial Art Gallery will also be hosting #MAGartTRIVIA into its Instagram Stories and will be saved as highlights. Each day, the Memorial Art Gallery will post an art related quiz or a trivia tidbit. It will be a great way to enrich your day! 

Genesee Country Village & Museum 

New York State’s largest living history museum has launched a Family Fun & Learning page on its website. It includes a variety of educational content from the historic village, Wehle Gallery, and nature center. Genesee Country Village & Museum will also be featuring new social media content daily on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that includes behind-the-scenes footage, story time, color pages, historical recipes, and more. 

Seneca Park Zoo 

The Seneca Park Zoo has introduced Zoo Projects. Each day (Monday-Friday), the Zoo will share a project that families can do together including an array of nature and animal-based activities that will teach you about the different species at the Seneca Park Zoo and will encourage you to surround yourself with nature. Be sure to check out the Zoo’s Facebook page daily for something news to try, learn or do! 

The Little Theatre 

While Rochester’s 90-year old independent movie theatre might be temporarily closed, it doesn’t mean The Little will stop sharing stories with our community. The Little Theatre has launched The Virtual Little that will allow you to screen movies from your home. Stay tuned as more films will be announced and available to stream via The Virtual Little.  

The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House 

Did you know? 2020 marks the 200th birthday of Susan B. Anthony, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote, and the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House.  Learn about Susan B. Anthony, the history of the suffrage movement, and her house on Madison Street in Rochester, NY when you explore the “Her Story” and “Her Home’s Story” tabs under the “Learn” drop down section of the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House website. 

You can also participate in a Susan B. Anthony Bike Tour around Rochester! The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is offering a digitally guided bike tour that allows you to ride around Rochester and stop at historically significant location where you will learn about Susan B. Anthony’s influences, friendships, activism, and more. It’s the perfect opportunity to get outside and learn more about Rochester’s rich history in the women’s rights movement. Learn more here. 

Eastman School of Music 

Keep up with Eastman School of Music students and alum as the school shares at-home performances on its Facebook page. You can also enjoy content on the school’s official YouTube channel. 

Blackfriars Theatre 

The Blackfriars Book Club will meet virtually on Thursday evenings for about 60-90 minutes and will facilitate an open conversation with participants on the play that was selected to read for that week. There is limited space! Only 20 spots are available each week with sign ups available on Fridays. Learn more about the virtual club and sign up on the Blackfriars Theatre website. 

Writers & Books

Take part in a virtual workshop or class with Writers & Books, Western NY’s largest literary center. W&B’s independent bookstore, Ampersand Books, is also offering local delivery to your doorstep.

WXXI-TV 

From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., WXXI-TV will broadcast a “Learn At Home” schedule of content to support families, educators, and students. WXXI’s education team has also pulled together resources in support of this effort which will available here. To view the full, new schedule visit WXXI.org/education. The WXXI Kids 24/7 channel will remain the same with PBS KIDS favorites for young viewers. 

Image City Photography Gallery 

Explore and enjoy the work of local high school students during Image City Photography Gallery’s virtual exhibit “Through The Student Lens 2020.” View the exhibition on the gallery’s website. 

Kids Out and About Rochester 

Find family fun right at home with the Kids Out and About Rochester's Virtual Events Calendar. Browse hundreds of virtual events and activities from here in Rochester and across the country. 

The Corning Museum of Glass 

Watch the fascinating techniques, artistry, and improvisation that comprise contemporary glassmaking by streaming studio demonstration videos from The Corning Museum of Glass’s YouTube channel. Check 10 ways to digitally experience glass here! 

Seward House Museum 

The Seward House Museum, located an hour outside Rochester in Auburn, NY, explores the history of 19th Century America through the lens of the Seward family, including Secretary of State William H. Seward, and his wife, Frances, who was an abolitionist that used their house on the UGRR. Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the SHM is now offering free video tours, lesson plans and worksheets to teachers, parents, and students. Contact outreach@sewardhouse.org for more info and access to these resources. Also, on Thursdays the SHM will be streaming live specialty tours on their Facebook page.

Other Virtual Ways To Visit Rochester 

Virtual Happy Hour W. Roc Brewing & Other NY Breweries 

The New York State Brewer’s Association is hosting virtual happy hours, and you’re invited! The happy hour series will feature local brewers and brewing professionals. Have a local beer ready at home and pop on over to ThinkNYDrinkNY.com to join the live happy hours. A full schedule of virtual happy hours are also available on the site. 

Virtual Workouts W. Compass Cycle + Flow 

Get your sweat on with daily, virtual workout classes with Compass Cycle + Flow. The free classes will be LIVE and available for 24 hours on Compass Instagram account and then available indefinitely on the Compass YouTube channel. 

Virtual Rochester Brainery Classes 

For a limited time, the Rochester Brainery will be offering many of its classes online so you can learn from home. To check out what’s on the schedule and to register for classes, you can visit the Rochester Brainery website. 

Virtual Yoga W. RocVentures 

Tune in for some for some lunchtime flow and another way to keep your body moving with LIVE virtual yoga classes on Instagram account for RocVentures. 

Take A Camera Class W. NSP Studio 

NSP Studio is offering a NEW camera course through its online photo academy.

Black Button Distilling 

Take a virtual tour of Black Button’s Railroad Street distillery with Jason Barrett, owner and head distiller. 

Irondequoit Beer Company 

BINGO! Irondequoit Beer Company is hosting weekly virtual beer and BINGO events on it’s Facebook page. Learn more about the events and how to download your game card here.