Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 28 during Path Through History conference in Albany that the state will spend $1 million to spur marketing for a new tourism initiative in New York state called “Path Through History.” The program is meant to highlight, via signage, the sites tied to New York and U.S. History. The Finger Lakes Region consisting of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties will receive $100,000 to promote their historical attractions.
The Path Through History initiative will include a new website and mobile application for visitors to New York State. The first stage of the initiative will be to install more than 200 iconic signs on the New York State Thruway and other major roads directing drivers to the historical sites. In addition to these iconic signs, new Path Through History attraction signs will be placed at exits to direct motorists to the historic sites that correspond to the iconic signage.
Representatives from each New York State region formed work groups in the months prior to the Governor’s unveiling of the program to advise on the signage and which historic sites should be included in Path Through History. Livingston County Tourism Director Lisa Burns and Rich Parker, regional director of the Genesee State Park Region, co-chaired the Finger Lakes work group that worked with the Governor’s office.
“Governor Cuomo’s commitment to New York State Tourism and History in the Path Through History program was apparent as our work group addressed the first phase in the process. More work will be done and this is a great opportunity for our regions historical attributes,” Burns said.
At the conference, representatives from each region discussed how to promote historical sites in their area and themes that link those attractions. The Finger Lakes region focused on Native American history, as well as historical events and people, like Clara Barton’s founding of the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Dansville and George Eastman’s role in the history of photography and film in Rochester.
“I think when we tell our story and present our story, more people are going to want to come and see it and hear it, and that’s going to be great for the economy,” Gov. Cuomo said.
Many tourism and history professionals from the Finger Lakes attended the conference in Albany and participated in the work group.
“Tourism is such an integral force in New York state’s and the Finger Lakes’ economy,” said A.J. Shear, Communications Manager for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, who is also a Finger Lakes work group member and conference attendee. “The economy will benefit from the Finger Lakes tourism industry and the Governor’s Office working together to bring the story of Finger Lakes history to visitors to New York state.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 28 during Path Through History conference in Albany that the state will spend $1 million to spur marketing for a new tourism initiative in New York state called “Path Through History.” The program is meant to highlight, via signage, the sites tied to New York and U.S. History. The Finger Lakes Region consisting of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties will receive $100,000 to promote their historical attractions.
The Path Through History initiative will include a new website and mobile application for visitors to New York State. The first stage of the initiative will be to install more than 200 iconic signs on the New York State Thruway and other major roads directing drivers to the historical sites. In addition to these iconic signs, new Path Through History attraction signs will be placed at exits to direct motorists to the historic sites that correspond to the iconic signage.
Representatives from each New York State region formed work groups in the months prior to the Governor’s unveiling of the program to advise on the signage and which historic sites should be included in Path Through History. Livingston County Tourism Director Lisa Burns and Rich Parker, regional director of the Genesee State Park Region, co-chaired the Finger Lakes work group that worked with the Governor’s office.
“Governor Cuomo’s commitment to New York State Tourism and History in the Path Through History program was apparent as our work group addressed the first phase in the process. More work will be done and this is a great opportunity for our regions historical attributes,” Burns said.
At the conference, representatives from each region discussed how to promote historical sites in their area and themes that link those attractions. The Finger Lakes region focused on Native American history, as well as historical events and people, like Clara Barton’s founding of the first chapter of the American Red Cross in Dansville and George Eastman’s role in the history of photography and film in Rochester.
“I think when we tell our story and present our story, more people are going to want to come and see it and hear it, and that’s going to be great for the economy,” Gov. Cuomo said.
Many tourism and history professionals from the Finger Lakes attended the conference in Albany and participated in the work group.
“Tourism is such an integral force in New York state’s and the Finger Lakes’ economy,” said A.J. Shear, Communications Manager for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, who is also a Finger Lakes work group member and conference attendee. “The economy will benefit from the Finger Lakes tourism industry and the Governor’s Office working together to bring the story of Finger Lakes history to visitors to New York state.”
