Explore the county’s official NY250 in Cortland County page for updates on local commemorations, heritage initiatives, and community efforts marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Celebrating 250 Years of America’s Story
In 2026, the United States marks its 250th anniversary, and Cortland County is celebrating in a way that feels true to our roots, through stories, landscapes, and the places where early American life took shape.
Tucked between the hills of the Finger Lakes region of New York, Cortland County offers visitors a chance to explore the quieter corners of history. From Revolutionary War connections to early settlement sites, this is a place where the American story continued long after independence was declared.
Whether you're a history buff, a curious traveler, or simply looking for things to do in Cortland County, our America250 Cortland County experiences invite you to walk where early settlers built their lives, gather around stories that shaped communities, and discover how local history fits into the larger American narrative.
Cortland County & the American Story
The American Revolution may have been fought elsewhere, but its impact reached deep into the hills and valleys of what is now Cortland County, New York.
After the war, soldiers, pioneers, and families moved into the region, carving out farms, building cabins, and forming the earliest communities that still shape the county today. These stories of settlement, resilience, and cooperation are part of the broader Revolutionary War history in Cortland County.
Today, visitors can explore historic sites in Cortland County, where roadside markers, preserved locations, and local lore reveal how this landscape became home to the next chapter of the American experiment.
This is heritage tourism in Cortland County at its most authentic - simple places with powerful stories.
Explore Revolutionary Roots
Across Cortland County, small historic markers and heritage sites quietly tell stories of the people who arrived here after the Revolution, determined to build something new.
These locations offer a glimpse into the early days of settlement and the lives of those who carried the ideals of the Revolution into the frontier of Central New York.
Site of the Cabin of David Morse — Cuyler, NY
After serving in the Revolutionary War, David Morse came to what is now Cuyler to begin a new life on the frontier. His original cabin still stands as a reminder of the determination and grit required to settle the region in the late 1700s. Standing here, it’s easy to imagine the moment when wilderness slowly transformed into a community.
Patriot Burials at Cortland Cemetery
A rare chance to connect local ground to major Revolutionary War moments: veterans buried here include John Daboll who served 1776–1783, later described fighting at Monmouth and Stony Point, and John Stanbro who fought at the Battle of Rhode Island, 1778.
© Village of Homer Recreation
Homer Village Green
Homer was Indian territory until the Revolutionary War. In 1781, New York created military tracts to reward soldiers for their service, and in 1805 this block was deeded to the First Religious Society of Homer for worship and education by the heirs of Revolutionary War veteran James M’Kinney, who died during the war.
Additional America250 Resources
Looking to dive deeper into America250 in Cortland County and the stories that shaped our region? These organizations offer helpful information, historical insight, and statewide resources to enrich your journey through Finger Lakes history and heritage tourism in Cortland County.
Download free America250 in the Finger Lakes graphics, banner templates, and other creative assets developed by the Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council and regional tourism partners. Coloring books and America250 posters featuring the 1890 House Museum will also be available for purchase at the Cortland County Visitors Center.
Cortland County Historical Society
Discover the people, places, and events that shaped Revolutionary War history in Cortland County and beyond. Through exhibits, research collections, and public programs, the Historical Society preserves the stories that continue to define the community today.
NYS 250th Commemoration Commission
The New York State 250th Commemoration Commission is leading the statewide effort to honor the American Revolution and its lasting impact. Through educational programs, historical interpretation, and commemorative initiatives, the Commission highlights New York’s vital role in the fight for independence.