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BettyO · (This post was last modified: 05-31-2015 04:44 PM by BettyO.)

Went on a "flying trip" up to Seward House Museum in Auburn New York on Thursday May 28, for a speaking engagement. I was accompanied by good friend and past Surratt Society President, Nancy Griffith. What a WONDERFUL time! Auburn is a fantastic, friendly little city and I encourage all of our Forum members to visit if they get a chance. This area of New York (Finger Lakes) is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful - it's a must! After a 14 hour drive, we arrived at midnight on the morning of May 29 and promptly fell into bed at the Inn at the Finger Lakes, a charming little hotel, awaking to a wonderful breakfast and the BEST coffee ever! Mid-morning, we went on a grand tour of the Seward Museum, the Fort Hill Cemetery to the Seward and Harriet Tubman grave sites, accompanied by John Kingsley, Director of Education. He is a fantastic guide and a lot of fun besides! The entire staff is a treasure - a great group of fantastic and fun folk! We toured the house from top to bottom; i.e. from the three (!) attics to the basement. One of the most beautiful artifacts is a mourning wreath of flowers from Lincoln's White House funeral. The William Seward House is a beautiful site and full of wonderful history - here is the website: http://sewardhouse.org/ Don't miss this, please!!

One of the most delightful treats of the entire trip was getting to meet our own, Herb Swingle! Herb is a consummate historian and scholar. He is a real treasure.

Herb and his lovely wife met us and took us to dinner in the beautiful and fantastic little village of Skaneateles (pronounced "skinny-atlas!") which is 5 miles from Auburn. We dined at the Sherwood Inn, a fabulous bed and breakfast which, according to it's website, [was] "built as a stagecoach stop in 1807, and ...has been a favorite resting place for travelers and locals for over two centuries." It has served celebrities and statesmen from George Washington to Alec Baldwin. The views of the Finger Lakes are fantastic. Definitely don't miss Auburn - it's full of fabulous history!

Excuse this LONG ramble - but I also wanted to share something else - We loved the mural painted on the brick wall of a clothing store on South Street - including life sized figures of Seward and Tubman in MODERN Dress!!