Oswego Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Town

Facts and practical information

Oswego, located in the beautiful New York region, is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and recreational activities. Nestled on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, this charming town is a perfect destination for travelers seeking a peaceful and picturesque getaway.

History enthusiasts will be delighted to explore the rich historical sites Oswego has to offer. Visit Fort Ontario, a well-preserved fortification that played a significant role in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. As you wander through its walls, imagine the soldiers who once guarded this strategic point. The H. Lee White Marine Museum is another must-visit attraction, where you can learn about the town's maritime heritage and see impressive exhibits on shipbuilding and navigation.

Nature lovers will be captivated by Oswego's stunning natural landscapes. Take a stroll along the Oswego Riverwalk, a scenic pathway that winds its way along the river, offering breathtaking views and opportunities for birdwatching. For a more immersive experience, head to Oswego Harbor and hop on a boat tour to explore the magnificent Lake Ontario, with its crystal-clear waters and picturesque lighthouses dotting the shoreline.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of activities to keep them entertained. Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines in the world-renowned Salmon River, known for its abundance of salmon and trout. If you're up for an adrenaline rush, Oswego is a popular destination for sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing. And during the winter months, the town transforms into a winter wonderland, offering fantastic opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

Food lovers will be delighted by Oswego's diverse culinary scene. Indulge in fresh seafood caught from Lake Ontario or savor delicious farm-to-table dishes in one of the town's charming restaurants. Don't forget to try the local specialty, the Oswego Pie, a mouthwatering dessert made with a unique combination of apples, cherries, and other seasonal fruits.

Alternative names: Population: 17.8 thous.Area: 29.3 mi²Elevation: 262 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 43°27'23"N, 76°30'39"W

Location

New YorkUnited States

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Oswego Top Attractions

Oswego Attractions - What to See and Explore

Oswego offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Fort Ontario, Richardson-Bates House, H. Lee White Marine Museum, Oswego Public Library. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Museum • Forts and castles
Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is an American historic bastion fort situated by the City of Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site.
Specialty museum • Museum • History museum
Richardson-Bates House
Richardson-Bates House is a historic home located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is constructed primarily of brick and built in two stages. The main section is a 2+1⁄2-story, Tuscan Villa style brick residence with a gable roof and 4-story tower designed by architect Andrew Jackson Warner about 1867.
Museum • Maritime museum
H. Lee White Marine Museum
The H. Lee White Marine Museum is located in Oswego, New York. It was founded in 1982 by Rosemary Sinnett Nesbitt, a local professor and the City of Oswego Historian. Nesbitt retired from directorship of the museum in 2008 after completing 25 years of service.

Library
Oswego Public Library
Oswego City Library is a historic library building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It has also been known as the Oswego School District Public Library. It was built in about 1855 and is a two-story brick structure over a full basement.
City tours • Walking tours • Food tours
Oswego City Hall
Oswego City Hall is a historic city hall located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1870 and is a 2+1⁄2-story masonry, mansarded structure with a distinctive central clock tower. It was designed by architect Horatio Nelson White.
Concerts and shows • Theater
Oswego Theater
Oswego Theater, now known as Oswego 7 Cinemas, is a historic movie theater located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was designed in 1940 in the Art Deco style and opened in 1941. The front features bands of yellow, red, and dark red brick that create broad horizontal and perpendicular belts.
Museum • History museum
Safe Haven Museum and Education Center
The Safe Haven Museum and Education Center is a museum in Oswego, New York that tells the story of 982 mainly Jewish refugees who fled Europe in the U.S. Government "Safe Haven" program. They came to the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter in Oswego, New York, in August 1944.
Architecture
Oswego County Courthouse
Oswego County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1859-1860 and altered in 1891 and again in 1962. The two story building rises above a cruciform plan and is constructed of load bearing masonry walls faced with smooth ashlar limestone.
43°27'41"N • 76°30'51"W
Oswego Valley Railroad Association and Oswego Railroad Museum
Specialty museum • Museum
Ship
Nash
Nash is a World War II U.S. Army Large Tug class seagoing tugboat built as hull #298 at Jakobson Shipyard, Oyster Bay NY as a Design 271 steel-hulled Large Tug delivered November, 1943. Originally named Major Elisha K. Henson, in 1946 she was renamed John F. Nash by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
43°27'26"N • 76°30'39"W
Market House
Market House, also known as The Market Hall and The D.L.& W. Hall, is a historic market building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1835 and is a massive brick and stone structure overlooking the Oswego River. The structure originally housed several government entities including city hall.
43°27'14"N • 76°30'35"W
Oswego Armory
Oswego Armory is a historic National Guard armory located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a brick and stone castle-like structure built in 1906–1908. It was designed by State architect George L. Heins.
Ship
Derrick Boat No. 8
Derrick Boat No. 8, also known as DB 8, is a historic floating derrick located at Oswego, Oswego County, New York. It was built in 1927, and it is one of the few surviving steam-powered floating derricks to have worked on the New York State Barge Canal.
43°27'8"N • 76°30'30"W
Standard Yarn Company Building
Standard Yarn Company Building is a historic factory building located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a brick structure, measuring 200 feet along the street and constructed in three sections between 1897 and 1911.
Sailing • Yacht club
Oswego Yacht Club
Oswego Yacht Club is a yacht club, established in 1881, located in Oswego, New York.
43°27'35"N • 76°30'43"W
Walton and Willett Stone Store
Walton and Willett Stone Store, also known as the Cahill Building or Cahill's Fish Market, is a historic commercial building located in Oswego, New York.
43°27'23"N • 76°31'13"W
John and Harriet McKenzie House
John and Harriet McKenzie House is a historic home located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a 1 ¹⁄₂-story, rectangular frame residence with Greek Revival details.
43°27'16"N • 76°30'47"W
Kingsford House
Kingsford House is a historic home located at Oswego in Oswego County, New York. It is a large 2 ¹⁄₂-story brick residence. Built about 1870 in the Italianate style, it was extensively reconfigured and enlarged in 1912–1913 in the Tudor Revival style.
Gothic Revival architecture
Buckhout-Jones Building
The Buckhout–Jones Building is a historic commercial building located at 5-13 West Bridge Street in Oswego, Oswego County, New York.

Day trips

Oswego – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Oswego, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Oswego Speedway (Oswego), Paddock Arcade (Watertown), NBT Bank Stadium (Syracuse).

1.4 miE
Racetrack, Sport venue, Sport
Oswego Speedway, Oswego
Oswego Speedway, a pulse-pounding hub of car racing in the city of Oswego, New York, is a must-visit destination for motorsport enthusiasts. Known as the "Indy of the East," this historic track has been thrilling fans with high-speed action since its opening in 1951.
47 milesNE
Shopping, Historical place, Shop
Paddock Arcade, Watertown
The Paddock Arcade is a 19th-century shopping mall located in Watertown, New York. Built in 1850, it is the second oldest covered shopping mall and the oldest continuously running enclosed shopping mall in the United States.
31 milesSE
Sport venue, Sport, Arenas and stadiums
NBT Bank Stadium, Syracuse
NBT Bank Stadium is a publicly owned, 10,815-seat, minor league baseball stadium in Syracuse, New York. It is the home stadium for the Syracuse Mets Triple-A baseball team of the International League.
34 milesSE
Synagogue
Temple Society of Concord, Syracuse
The Temple Society of Concord, commonly referred to as Temple Concord, is a Reform Jewish congregation located at 910 Madison Street, Syracuse, in the U.S. state of New York.
33 milesSE
Tiny frogs to giant elephants on display
Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an AZA zoo in Syracuse, New York. It is owned and operated by Onondaga County Parks with support from the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The zoo is home to more than 900 animals representing 216 species on 43 acres.