Day 14 – Rochester and Sights along the Seaway Trail

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Day 14 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I awoke with no bear sightings at Golden Hill State Park on the Seaway Trail in New York. While I sort of wanted to see one, it is likely best none visited the campgrounds as if they become a nuisance they could be euthanized.  I stopped by the lighthouse at the campgrounds once more, but the attendant wasn’t there at 9:30 am, so I didn’t get to take the tour. Oh well, I marked it off as another virtual cache and continued on the Seaway Trail to Rochester.

City of Rochester

High Falls

Before heading to the City of Rochester, I said goodbye to Arnie and Judy, redhats who helped out at the campgrounds last night. Believe it or not, there is a 100-foot waterfall in the middle of of the city.  High Falls, on the Genesee River, can be found in Brown’s Race Historic District, and lucky for me was another earth cache.  During the early 1800s the river supplied power to several mills and factories in the area, and Rochester became known as the Flour City.  After the decline of mills, Rochester became known as the Flower City.

Brown’s Race and the Triphammer Building

Brown’s Race, a power canal, was constructed in 1815 and can still be seen today in the Historic District.  The canal; 1,221 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 5 ½ feet deep; diverted water away from the falls and spillways and funneled the water from the race through the mills.  Next to the canal was the Triphammer Building built as a forge in 1816. It used a large hammer (the triphammer), which was raised by waterpower and dropped, to forge wrought-iron tools. 

Later the building was used to build fire engines. By 1860 it changed hands again. Junius Judson, inventor of the steam governor used in locomotives and ships, purchased it and added a water turbine. Workers discovered the water wheel and the shaft to the water turbine in a basement room after clearing rubble from a 1977 fire.  The remains provide the layers of Rochester’s history. 

Before I left the Historic District, two interns interviewed me about the banks and the new banking laws…haha.  Rather coincidental given I just left a 12 year public finance investment banking career. They wanted to know if I was happy with how I was treated the last time I opened a checking account, how the bank communicates with me, if the communication is relevant, and who I thought would benefit the least with the new regulations.  Hmmm…I wonder.

Eastman Kodak Museum

Rochester is also home to the Eastman Kodak Museum.  Eastman Kodak’s office building is walking distance from the falls, and George Eastman’s 50-room Colonial Revival Mansion is only a few miles away in the East Avenue Historic District.  It now houses the International Museum of Photography and Film.  I stopped by, but as with most museums, it was closed on Monday.  I bet it is fantastic. 

Susan B Anthony House

I also made a quick trip to the Susan B. Anthony House, as I’ve always liked the dollar coin, and expectantly settled for a picture of the house as it was closed too.

Sodus Bay Lighthouse

I maneuvered downtown Rochester on my way back to the Seaway Trail that was peppered with apple and pear orchards, fields of wild flowers, and crops with backdrops of lake views or green forests sprinkled with red, yellow, and orange from the changing leaves.  Thirty miles later I arrived at Sodus Bay Lighthouse. 

According to Reader’s Digest, “It is said that slaves escaping via the Underground Railroad longed to see the Sodus Light, the last way station on their 1,000 mile trek” before they sailed across to Canada.  Currently, it includes a maritime museum, and it was closed as well!  At least I saved some money on all the entrance fees I guess.

Southwick Beach State Park

I ended the day early at Southwick Beach State Park.  I saw two more deer, so my count is up to 13.  It has been raining since noon, so the dogs and I have been hanging out in VANilla.  I needed to address a few bills and emails as well as to review my upcoming scenic drives, so it was good time to pull in for the night. ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

Other Articles About New York You May Like

• Day 13- Sights Along the Seaway Trail
• Day 15 – Sights Along the Seaway Trail – Part 3
• Day 16 – Adirondack Adventure
• Day 39 – New York’s Hudson River Valley
• Day 40 – New York’s Hudson River Valley – Part 2

Shop

Check out the photographic note cards and key chains at my shop.  Each card has a travel story associated with it.  20% of proceeds are donated to charity.

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