About GCV&M
Genesee Country Village & Museum was founded in 1966 with the goal of preserving the architecture of the Genesee Valley region in a recreated historic village, providing context for the telling of New York State and 19th-century American history. The Museum now covers 600 acres and includes the Historic Village, the John L. Wehle Gallery, and the Genesee Country Nature Center, all of which provide interactive programs, fascinating exhibits, and special events to help you live and experience history.
GCV&M is the largest and most comprehensive living history museum in New York State – and the third-largest in the United States. Chartered as an educational institution by the NYS Board of Regents, the Museum offers opportunities to see, smell, taste, touch, explore, and experience our 68 historic buildings; more than 20,000 artifacts; wildlife paintings, drawings, and sculptures spanning centuries; the living collections in our gardens, on our working farm and at our Nature Center; and the gorgeous landscape that first brought settlers to this region.
Genesee Country Village & Museum is designated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Our mission, vision, and values
OUR MISSION
Through immersive experiences, we enrich life today by connecting people with history, art, and nature.
OUR VISION
Guided by our values, we will be a nationally recognized destination. We will operate with integrity, creativity, and inclusivity to be a resource for the communities we serve and a fulfilling place to work and volunteer. We will expand our impact and inspire excitement and curiosity in all of our audiences.
OUR VALUES
Authenticity: Offering research-based interpretation, exhibits, costuming, and programming.
Collaboration: Creating a community of respect and cooperation amongst our staff and volunteers, throughout our neighborhood and region, and within our field.
Exploration: Providing educational, fun, and hands-on experiences not offered anywhere else.
Inclusivity: Expanding within our staff, volunteers, partners, and audience; the stories we tell, and the programs we deliver to our community.
Stewardship: Caring for our audiences, collections, environments, and shared histories.
Responsibility: Striving for stability and sustainability in our operational, social, and environmental future.
OUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTATION
Genesee Country Village & Museum is actively committed to expanding our interpretation and exhibits to include voices and perspectives frequently underrepresented in museum collections, the telling of history, and outdoor spaces. Guided by our mission, values, and inclusive culture of curiosity, we strive to ensure that all visitors, volunteers, and employees feel safe, welcomed, and celebrated throughout their museum experiences.
Collections Policy
The GCV&M Permanent Collection is made up of diverse objects and materials, dating primarily from 1750-1915, that enhance the staff’s and the public’s understanding of life and culture in Western New York. The provenance of the majority of these materials and objects is local. The collection includes but is not limited to objects in the following categories: historic structures, furniture, textiles, clothing, ceramics, glass, metal, horse-drawn vehicles, tools and equipment, fine and folk art, and books and archival materials.
Genesee Country Village & Museum’s programs are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, as well as many other dedicated grantors, corporate partners, and individual donors.
For a full list of supporters, please see our Annual Report, on-site donor recognition, or call our Development Office at (585) 294-8252. Thank you!