The Livingston County Historical Society is very proud of the fine museum which it operates at 30 Center Street in the village of Geneseo, New York. The museum is housed in the attractive cobblestone building which served as a district school for nearly a century. This 1838 structure, as delightful in atmosphere as it is handsome in design, lends itself ideally for use as a Museum of Local History.

Exhibits in the Museum range from relics of pioneer days to momentoes of the 20th century; household articles to ladies' finery; from objects of folk art to examples of Valley wildlife; from Indian artifacts to old-time lighting devices. The Historical Society takes special pride in its unusally fine display of old toys, its excellent collection of military items, also, its china, silver, pewter ware.

Livingston County history is truly brought to life through the fascinating displays to be found in the various rooms of the museum. Attached to the main building is a board and batten "annex" where visitors may see a genuine Concord Coach, a large exhibit of farm and equestrian items, a collection of tools of early craftsmen, and early printing presses. In a separate shelter on the Museum ground is a section of the famous "Big Tree", a giant oak which grew in early days, on the west bank of the Genesee. Another separate building is an 1890 Hose Cart House used in Geneseo. This building, restored in 1995, houses a collection of county fire memorablilia.

The home of the Livingston County Historical Museum, since 1932, is one the few remaining examples of cobblestone masonry in Livingston County. It was constructed during the summer of 1838, to meet the needs of the District School #5 in the town of Geneseo. The Cobblestone School, a one-story structure, is architecturally unique, the orginal building being in the shape of a Greek cross.

Over the years, wooden additions have been made, but the origianl remains in its entirety. The first addition to the district school was made in 1871. This is the room on the southwest corner, in which the Livingston County Historian's Office is located. In 1916, the school was further expanded by the addition of a room on the east, now the museum's "changing exhibits" area. The Historical Society, finding itself in need of more exhibits space, built a sizeable addition in 1968. This is known as the "Memorials Room".

The first museum was a log cabin built by the Historical Society in 1895, in the Village Park in Geneseo. This log cabin, which still stands in its original location, was the Museum until 1932, at which time the Historical Society came into possession of its present property.