Madison County Historical Society
Museums, Historical Sites, and ZoosNew York, United States2-10 Employees
Madison County Historical Society is a small nonprofit educational organization based in Oneida, New York, chartered in 1900 to preserve, collect, promote, and exhibit the history of Madison County and its fifteen towns and one city. It pursues its mission through curated exhibits, public programs, and educational initiatives that make the county’s heritage accessible to residents and researchers. The society operates Cottage Lawn, an 1849 Gothic Revival villa designed by Alexander Jackson Davis, which serves as a historic museum. It also houses the Mary King Genealogical Research Library, established in 2002 to support genealogical research for local families. Visitors can engage with the collection through guided museum tours offered year round. The society also conducts a range of annual events, including the Madison County Craft Festival, Hop Fest, Cottage Lawn Farmers’ Market, and Victorian Christmas Open House, which reflect the organization’s role in community education and cultural programming. Cottage Lawn was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1984 for its architectural significance. The organization functions with a small staff and serves local residents, students, and genealogy researchers seeking to understand Madison County’s heritage.