Jun 23, 2026
Cayuga County, NY — Tour Cayuga recognized seven partners and community leaders with the 2026 Commemorating America 250 Tourism Awards during its annual Where Tourism Meets Community luncheon on June 17 at Emerson Park Pavilion on Owasco Lake.
The annual luncheon brings together tourism partners, cultural organizations, elected officials, community leaders, and statewide tourism representatives to celebrate Cayuga County’s visitor economy and the people and places that make local tourism meaningful.
This year’s awards honored partners doing exceptional work to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the creation of the United States of America, while also recognizing the continued work toward the ideals of liberty, freedom, and civic contribution.
“Cayuga County has always been a place where history lives and breathes, and this year’s America 250 award recipients embody that spirit in the most meaningful way,” said Tour Cayuga Executive Director Courtney Kasper. “When visitors come to explore our historic sites, experience our agricultural heritage, and connect with the stories that define this region, they’re spending in our local businesses, supporting our hospitality industry, and investing in our community. Our partners are creating experiences that don’t just mark an anniversary, they drive real economic value while making ‘Our Cayuga’ a place residents are proud to call home. We’re proud to celebrate these organizations and individuals who make local tourism not only vibrant but deeply rooted in community and purpose.”
The 2026 Commemorating America 250 Tourism Award recipients were:
Aurora Ledyard Historical Society — A Living Declaration
Accepted by Ledyard Historian and Board of Trustees President Shirley Egan, the Aurora Ledyard Historical Society was honored for its longstanding Fourth of July tradition at Ledyard Town Hall, where a costumed reading of the Declaration of Independence recreates the way the news of American independence would have been received in rural communities in 1776. The program also invites attendees to print their own copy of the Declaration using an antique hand-operated printing press at the Press of Robert LoMascolo.
Lock 52 Heritage Society / Old Mentz Heritage Center — Founding Mothers’ Liberty Tea Party
Accepted by Joni Lincoln, Town of Conquest Historian, the Lock 52 Heritage Society was recognized for its Founding Mothers’ Liberty Tea Party, held May 16 at the Old Mentz Heritage Center. The program featured Lady Martha Washington, portrayed by Lincoln, and interviewed by Montezuma Historian Cheryl Longyear to highlight the public service, sacrifice, and influence of women during the Revolutionary era.
City of Auburn Historic & Cultural Sites Commission — History’s Hometown America 250 Programming
Accepted by Kate Grindstaff, NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center Visitor Experience Manager, the City of Auburn Historic & Cultural Sites Commission was honored for its investment in community heritage through its History’s Hometown America 250 grant program. Through a $30,000 allocation, the Commission supported programming across Auburn’s historic and cultural sites, including exhibitions, concerts, public history programs, and special events connected to America’s 250th anniversary.
Cayuga County Historian Ruth Bradley — Steward of County History
Cayuga County Historian Ruth Bradley was recognized for her dedication to preserving and sharing Cayuga County’s history and for helping steward $15,000 in New York State America 250 funding to support local historical organizations and programs. Bradley was also honored for her own work to mark the anniversary, including a program to plant white pine trees in honor of the Indigenous peoples who came before us.
Ward O’Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum — Stewardship of Agricultural Heritage
Accepted by Museum Director Tim Quill, the Ward O’Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum was honored for preserving Cayuga County’s agricultural history and connecting that legacy to the nation’s founding story. As part of its America 250 programming, the museum is featuring daily activities and displays exploring common items used by Colonists during the American Revolution and the staple foods that shaped daily life in the 13 Colonies.
Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society — Preserving Presidential Heritage
Accepted by Jacob Hamilton, president of the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historical Society, the organization was recognized for its stewardship of the history of the Moravia area and the legacy of Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States, who was born in Cayuga County. The Society was honored for using Fillmore’s local story to encourage meaningful conversation about Cayuga County’s place in American history.
Melody Smith Johnson — Harriet Tubman’s Legacy in Action
Melody Smith Johnson was honored for her civic leadership, community-building work, and commitment to empowering others in Harriet Tubman’s chosen hometown. In 2022, Johnson made history as the first Black woman to open a business in Cayuga County. Melody’s in downtown Auburn is a co-working, retail, and event space created to support female entrepreneurs and provide a platform for connection, opportunity, and community voice.
Each award recipient received a limited-edition collector’s series MacKenzie-Childs ceramic Star Vase, hand crafted and painted by artisans in Aurora, New York.
The luncheon program was emceed by Erin Katzker, former Chair of the Tour Cayuga Board of Directors and Managing Director of The REV Theatre Company, with opening remarks delivered by Cayuga County Legislature Chair Jonathan Anna. The event also featured keynote speaker Bob Provost, President & CEO of the New York State Tourism Industry Association, and Ally Spongr DeGon, Director of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Board President of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State, and Executive Director of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
The program also marked a board leadership transition, with Katzker inviting Jacob Hamilton to help close the event as Tour Cayuga’s incoming Board Chair.
Established in 1995 as the independent tourism promotion agency for Cayuga County, Tour Cayuga works to enhance the visitor experience, support local businesses, promote cultural heritage, and strengthen the county’s tourism economy. The organization is in its 31st year with a continued focus on destination stewardship, community collaboration, and tourism that supports both visitors and residents.
For more information about Tour Cayuga, visit tourcayuga.com
About Cayuga County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
The Cayuga County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CCCVB) is Cayuga County’s tourism promotion agency. We increase tourism and related revenues through promotion and research-based targeted marketing, and we improve the visitor experience by providing data and training to local hospitality industry providers. We continuously work to increase tourism and improve the visitor experience, which in turn stimulates economic growth and sustains recreational and cultural opportunities in the County.