Page 14 - 2026 Orleans County Travel Guide

ViLLAGE mEDiNA ON THE EriE CANAL
OF

119 Park Ave., Medina ........................................................ (585) 798-0710
www.villagemedina.org ..........................www.MedinaNYTourism.com
The area that became known as Medina started around “the
docks.” It was situated on a turn in the Erie Canal that created a wide
waters area suitable for tying up outside the main channel. Quickly
expanding, the Village of Medina was incorporated in 1832.
John Ryan opened the first commercial quarry in 1837, shipping
Medina sandstone initially to cities and towns along the Erie Canal,
and eventually around the world. This industry put Medina on the
map, and with other key industries, such as iron works, furniture
manufacturing, and a pickle factory, Medina grew into a prosperous
economic hub in Orleans County.
This 19 century prosperity can still be witnessed today as you
th
stroll along the well-preserved Main Street, which is on the National
Register of Historic Places. It includes several buildings made of
Medina sandstone. While the downtown may look frozen in time,
it offers up all of the 21 century modern amenities that residents
st
© Peggy Barringer
and visitors have come to expect. It is replete with specialty shops,
LEE-WHEDON MEMORIAL LIBRARY restaurants, boutique hotels and the Erie Canal Marine Park.
Take a leisurely hike along the towpath east to the Medina Falls
585-798-3430 • medinalibrary.org and aqueduct where the Oak Orchard River passes below the canal.
620 West Ave., Medina Schedule a trip by waterway or roadway to coincide with one of
An official Orleans County the many events including Blue Thursday summer concert series
Tourism visitor center or PTNY’s Cycle the Canal event in July. The premier festival is the
The Greater Medina Area consists of the towns of Ridgeway to the Saturday after Thanksgiving – the Olde Tyme Christmas Festival
north and east and Shelby to the south and west. The main attrac- & Parade of Lights with an entire day of family fun activities. The
tion in the town of Ridgeway is the Erie Canal Culvert on Culvert Medina Railroad Museum features train excursions including
Road where the road passes UNDER the canal, the only place on Thomas the Train, Fall Foliage tours and Polar Express in December.
the Erie Canal this occurs. The town of Shelby shares the Iroquois The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery offer programming throughout
National Wildlife Refuge that’s located on the border of Orleans/ the year in the village cemetery and Medina Area Partnership hosts
Genesee counties, 5 miles south of Medina. (Refer to pages 32-33.) a variety of special events, listed on page 15.

HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS TO SEE & DO IN MEDINA
BENT’S OPERA HOUSE MEDINA ARMORY & CO. F MEMORIAL MEDINA RAILROAD MUSEUM
444 Main St., Medina .....................585-318-2110 306 Pearl St., Medina 530 West Ave, Medina ...................585-798-6106
bentsoperahouse.com companyfmemorial.com medinarailroadmuseum.org • f
Opened in 1865 as the center of the arts. Decommissioned in 1977, the Medina Armory Located in a 300’ long freight house built in
The upper floors had been vacant since the is the current home of the YMCA. The Company 1905, exhibiting railroad and fire fighting
mid-1900s. In 2012, NYS Preservation League F monument was erected in 2008 and features history. Includes the largest HO scale model
deemed Bent’s as one of “Seven to Save”. BOH the names of local soldiers who trained at the railroad layout in the eastern US. Enjoy a
was restored to its original splendor, opening armory from 1898 to 1947. A 1400 lbs. bronze leisurely 34 mi. round trip, 2 hr. ride through
in 2021 including Harvest Restaurant, a statue was installed in 2019 in honor of all the Erie Canal Heritage Corridor aboard
boutique hotel and event center. (See pg. 59.) military veterans. comfortable vintage 1947 Budd passenger
coaches between Medina & Lockport. Museum
BOXWOOD CEMETERY MEDINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY W-SU 11-5. Call for excursion train schedule,
North Gravel Rd., Medina 406 West Ave, Medina ....................585-798-3006 May-Dec. See ad on back page.
f @Friends of Boxwood Cemetery historicmedina.org
Boxwood Cemetery is a twenty acre cemetery Organized in 1971, the Medina Historical MEDINA SANDSTONE HALL OF FAME
situated on the banks of Glenwood Lake. It’s Society maintains annals and relics of Western Medina City Hall, Main St, Medina
on the National Register of Historic places as a New York, especially the Village of Medina www.sandstonesociety.org • f
representative example of 19th and 20th century and the Townships of Shelby and Ridgeway, Since 2013, the Medina Sandstone Society
cemetery design. The first burial was in 1849, but educating the people in the history of their has selected outstanding examples of Medina
it officially opened in 1850, and is the final resting community. Sandstone representing churches, homes,
place of many prominent people from Medina public buildings and other architectural
and the surrounding area. significant structures. The Hall of Fame is on
display at Medina’s Visitor Center, City Hall and
HISTORIC MEDINA INTERPRETIVE SIGN INITIATIVE: launched by the Orleans is open by appointment and during special
Renaissance Group, fourteen interpretive signs have been installed throughout Medina’s events. The induction ceremony is in October.
Historic Downtown District, creating an historic sign walking trail.

PAGE 14 ORLEANSCOUNTYTOURISM.COM • 585-589-3100