Founded in 1896, the Oswego County Historical Society has preserved and promoted the history of the greater Oswego area for more than 100 years.

In 1946, the historical society received a generous gift of a historic 19th century Italian Villa to serve as the permanent head quarters for a public museum.

Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, the Richardson-Bates House offers a unique glimpse of the lifestyle of a wealthy and  prominent Oswego family, as well as a museum dedicated to interpreting the history of the people and places in Oswego County through exhibits and educational programs.

Please visit to learn more!

  • Museum

  • The Richardson-Bates House was built in two stages as a private residence for Maxwell Richardson, a local attorney, real estate broker and two-term mayor of Oswego. In 1867, Max commissioned Rochester architect Andrew Jackson Warner to design the Tuscan Villa style residence for him and his family. The opulent interior decor reflects the 19th century Victorian fascination with art, culture, education and history.

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  • Admission

    • Adults – $8.00


    • Students & Seniors – $5.00


    • Children (6 – 12) – $3.00

    • Children Under 6 – Free


    • OCHS Members – Free


    • Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

  • Video

Exhibits

  • The House

    The Richardson Bates House is one of the most intact house museums in New York State with opulent furnishings, artwork and architectural details from the Victorian era. Shown is the drawing room designed by the Pottier and Stymus Company of New York City in the late 1860's.

  • Temporary Exhibit

    Bicycling History in Oswego featuring a painting by Don Gillespie and Norman Bates's bicycles

  • Permanent Exhibit

    Oswego County History timeline traces the people, events, agriculture and industries of Oswego County from our Native American heritage to the 20th century.

Annual Meeting for the Oswego County Historical Society

The annual meeting of the Oswego County Historical Society will be held on Sunday July 19 at 1:30 pm at the Breitbeck Park in the City of Oswego under the pavilion. (July 26th is the alternate date if there is heavy rain on the 19th)
Please bring your own chairs if you would like and practice social distancing. There will be a report by the president on the year's activities and election of new board members and officers, There won't be a formal lecture due to the outdoor circumstances, but it will involve some history!
Breitbeck Park is on Lake Street between W. 8th and Ontario.

The Richardson Bates House Museum will be closed until it is safe to open, and has postponed its fundraiser the ``Not So Silent Auction`` until a future date.
We hope you are all staying safe and will use our website for educational purposes for yourself and your family. Click on the Education tab above for interesting articles about Oswego County History and ready-made lesson plans geared toward all ages. We don't charge for any of the educational materials but if you are utilizing them, we hope you can make a small contribution to keep us afloat until admissions and fundraising can resume. Click on the ``Support`` tab and then ``Make a Gift``.
Thanks to everyone for your help!
Follow our Facebook page Richardson-Bates House Museum, for updates on how we are progressing in preparing for an opening later in the spring or summer.

The Museum on Facebook