Ryan Jones joined the Hanford Mills Museum team in July 2022. Ryan has always had an interest in studying the history of the industrial experience in New York State, with particular interest in the lives of everyday people who shaped it. Ryan’s favorite historical milling machine on site at Hanford Mills is the gristmill. He loves following its intricate workings and seeing all of its interconnected pulleys and shafts.  Ryan enjoys helping visitors learn about the sustainable connections area residents had with the environment in the1800s and 1900s.

In his free time, Ryan can be found reading, hiking, and watching movies. The movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is at the top of his list. One of his favorite books of all time is The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien. Ryan’s interest in film extends to the making of documentaries.