Join Hanford Mills as we explore pollinators, native ecosystems, and agriculture during this Exploration Day from 10am-4pm. Admission is by donation rather than our usual admission rates.

A morning bird walk guided by the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will take place at 8am before the museum opens for the day.

Hanford Mills Museum staff will offer demonstrations of our steel attrition grist mill throughout the day, in addition to our usual machine demonstrations. The Learning Lab will be open with many activities and historic games for children and the whole family to participate in. Kids will also have the opportunity to plant a marigold seed to take home and help our pollinator friends.

Schoharie and Otsego County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners will share information about gardening, especially invasive species. Beekeepers will be on site to talk about bees and pollination, and Blue Merle Apiaries will have honey and comb honey for sale.

Representatives from the New York Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Visitor’s Center will provide education about their hydroelectric plant with a STEM activity. The Catskill Forest Association will also be on hand to share information about forestry education and services for private landowners in the Catskill Mountain region. Intelligent Green Solutions will be on-site to tell visitors about both their roof mount and ground mount solar power solutions for homes and businesses.  Contemporary folk singer-songwriter Will Walker from Cooperstown will be performing poetic songs inspired by family, history, and rural communities.

Union Grove Distillery will offer tastings of their products that will also be for sale. 

Visitors are also welcome to bring their lunch and snacks and enjoy them at our picnic tables.

Check back on this page or our social media channels for updates.