A Day in Elmira

In our last post we talked about visiting Elmira for the ultimate Mark Twain experience; but that is just the beginning of things to do in this unique city! Located in the beautiful Chemung Valley region of Finger Lakes Wine Country, Elmira has everything to offer from restaurants to breweries to art galleries and museums!

Chemung Valley Museum

A great way to start off your Elmira adventure is at the Chemung Valley Museum. Here you can learn all about the history of the region from the time of the Native Americans up to the 20^th century.  A favorite piece of the museum even dates the Native Americans; a great mammoth tusk from which the area received its name.

The main exhibit of the museum includes the timeline of the region as well as the Mark Twain Exhibit. In the “barn room”, there is now a weddings/funerals tribute going on until the end of May. An agricultural exhibit will take its place in the beginning of June. The museum tries to keep this exhibit focused on something seasonally related. Another exhibit will include student art. One of the most interesting exhibits coming up this summer is dedicated to the prison camp that once existed in Elmira. The museum is definitely ‘a can’t miss’.

The Chemung Valley History Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for senior citizens, and $1 for students (ages 6-18). Children under 5 are free!

Arnot Art Museum

For your next stop take a short ride across town to the Arnot Art Museum. This museum is internationally acclaimed and known for their portrait room. A couple of other exhibits that make Arnot stand out are their American Hudson River School exhibit and their collection of contemporary realists. The staff at the museum is outstanding and will go out of their way to make sure you fully enjoy your experience here. To make things a little more fun for the kids, there are even educational scavenger hunts that can be done. 

The Arnot Art Museum is located at 235 Lake Street in Elmira. Admission to the museum is $7. They are open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon until 5 p.

Split Rock Brewing Company

Do you like hockey? What about beer? Or are you just into stuffing your face with delicious foods? If the answer is yes to any of those questions – Split Rock Brewing Company is the place for you. Located within the First Arena, home of the Elmira Jackals, Split Rock gives one of the most unique brew pub experiences. After an educational but fun day of history and art, this is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a pint of beer. They’re even open for the hockey games, so you can stop by and grab a craft brew during intermission. But even if a game is not going on, Split Rock still has a lot to offer. Their menu includes everything from poutine (a Canadian and hockey fan’s favorite) to burgers to delicious salads; there is something for everyone to enjoy! 

Split Rock is open daily from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.