A recent trip to the city of Utica, NY, this summer, gave me the opportunity to explore some of its history. The Munson Museum offers a look at the city’s artistic past, while Union Station gives an exploration of its classic architecture.
Erie Canal and Covered Bridge by Walter M. Oddie
Utica was built along the Mohawk River in 1758, at the site of the old Fort Schuyler, and incorporated in 1798. It served as a key rest stop between Albany and Syracuse, a role that became more important with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. It also served as an important place in the transport of coal from the mines in northern Pennsylvania to the industrial centers along the canal. Its significance continued when railroads took over the job along the canals’ right-of-way.
Alfred Munson by John M. Marble via Munson.ART
One early industrialist in the area was Alfred Munson (1793-1854) who made his money through the manufacture of burrstone and textiles, coal mines, and the development of transportation along the canal and rail lines. His daughter Helen (1824-1873) married James Watson Williams (1810-1873) a local lawyer who joined the family business. Helen started collecting decorative and fine art. She was also a shrewd investor who greatly increased the family fortune. Their daughters, Rachel (1850-1915) and Maria (1853-1935), with their husbands, continued collecting art, jewelry, and decorative items. After Rachel’s death in 1915, the remaining three family members decided to create a cultural institution for the city of Utica. Officially named the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, it includes the art museum, an art school connected with The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and a performance space.
Like many museums in small cities, the Munson has a wide collection of works produced by very good artists. The Munson’s collection is mostly American artists, and it is a joy to walk through.
Crabmen, Charleston by Andrée Ruellan
Godzilla by Emma Amos
The Porch II by Phillip Guston
Nospmas.M. Egiap Nospmas. M. by Charles Demuth
Winter, Spuyten Duyvil by Ernest Lawson
Danae in Arizona Variation II by Kay Walkingstick
There was also a special exhibition: American Landscapes from The New York Historical Society (through Sept. 22, 2024).
Study from Nature: Rocks and Trees by Asher Brown Durand
View of the Shandoken Mountains by Asher Brown Durand
Niagara Falls by Louisa Davis Minot
Autumn Woods, Oneida County by Albert Bierstadt
Since Utica was an important center of transport and manufacturing, it invested in the building of a beautiful train station. While the city no longer gets the number of passengers that it did in its heyday, the station has been maintained and it is a great place to visit, both to enjoy its architecture, and because it is home to the city’s visitors office, an important resource whenever I travel.
Nuts and Bolts
Munson Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM; Sunday 12 noon - 5 PM, and it is free at all times.
The Terrace Cafe is an excellent full restaurant where you can enjoy a great meal. I highly recommend a reservation.
Utica Union Station is at 321 Main Street. It serves several Amtrak trains every day, along with the Adirondack Railroad tours to Old Forge NY
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