Mary Eberstadt, Andrew Doran, and Kathryn Jean Lopez meeting with leadership of the national shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York in their visitors’ center. Three of the Jesuit missionaries — including Isaac Jogues — were murdered on these grounds. “The Lily of the Mohawks,” St. Kateri Tekakwitha was also born there. The shrine opened in 1885 and is currently maintained by the nonprofit Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Inc.
Informal smiles from Julie Baaki, executive director of the North American martyrs shrine, and KJL, who serves on the board of directors there.
Andrew Doran inspects the monument marking the Oneida Carry outside Rome, New York -- one of the most strategically important stretches of land in our history, the battle for whose control was essential to the American Revolution.
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville on June 21, 2025.
Mary Eberstadt at Fish Creek, home to upstate New York’s most tumultuous whitewater. Oneida Indians fished salmon out of it regularly, and runners would bring some of the catch to Fort Stanwix, ten miles away in what is now Rome, New York.
Gravesite of Frederick Douglass, New Hope Cemetary, Rochester, New York. It's a vital touchstone to New York’s rich cultural heritage and America’s journey toward freedom. After escaping slavery, Douglass made Rochester his home from 1847 to 1872, launching The North Star newspaper, aiding the Underground Railroad, and advocating fiercely for both abolition and women’s suffrage alongside Susan B. Anthony.
This plaque is all that remains of Timbuktu, a fledgling black community founded in the Adirondacks on land granted to free blacks by abolitionist Garrett Smith. Nearby is John Brown’s farm, which is also also the inspiration for Russell Banks’ award-winning 1998 book about John Brown’s life, Cloudsplitter.
Tucked away in an isolated hamlet in Central New York are the grave and monument to Baron Von Steuben, the Prussian who turned untrained farmers and other colonists into the continental Army. Without him, the Revolutionary War might have gone to the British.
Monument to Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville.
The Hotel Henry Buffalo, formerly the Buffalo State Asylum. Grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and buildings by architect L.L. Richardson, in an effort to bring improved surroundings to the mentally ill.
Creative directors Mike Savoy and Judy Kelly reviewing details of the new website.
Your support is vital in helping us bring these inspirational stories to light. Whether through donations or joining our newsletter, you can play an integral role in preserving the history and heritage of Upstate New York. Stay informed about upcoming events, research milestones, and ways to get involved with our mission.
JOIN NEWSLETTER
