The Village of Webster has a walkable main street with a variety of small businesses and family-owned restaurants. It is a great place to wander and an area proud of its history. The Webster Museum and Historical Society, tucked away on a side street, offers quaint exhibits that interpret the village’s history and culture. I had never heard of this little museum but figured it was worth trying out. My children and I left glad we visited and happily recounted our experience the whole ride home.
Parking
Lapham Park road provides easy access to the large municipal parking lot that wraps around the building.
Public Transportation
RTS does not have a bus stop in the Village of Webster, however, RTS On Demand includes this area in its service.
The Entrance
The Webster Museum and Historical Society is visible and easily accessible from the parking lot. Several window displays flank the main entrance with no stairs to climb.
The Webster Museum
When we walked in, the welcoming volunteers greeted us and shared information about how to enjoy the space. As we made our way through the various exhibits, they checked in engaging us in conversation and allowing us to ask questions while sharing memories with my children.
My children found the well-done exhibits interesting and educational. They had artifacts arranged depicting spaces such as rooms in houses, businesses, and an interactive school room. Numbers posted throughout the displays correlated with informational guidebooks. My girls created fun scavenger hunts as I quickly tried to read the information to them.
We learned about the area’s prehistory, Indigenous Nations, old-fashioned ice cream shops, apple farms, an apothecary, tools and decorations in homes, and toys. Additionally, research areas full of documents provide an opportunity for people to delve further into the detailed history of Webster. Among the displays, the museum offered some hands-on activities that helped my active children stay engaged. We happily spent about two hours looking through the exhibits and chatting with the volunteers.
Other Things To Do in the Area
Since Webster is a walkable village, I highly recommend taking some extra time to peruse the shops or grab a treat at one of the restaurants. Don’t forget the sweet shops tucked in on the north side of Ridge Road.
Related Educational Suggestions
- Research local farm history
- Read a book about apple farming
- Read a story about a one-room schoolhouse
- Study the Indigenous people of the Six Nations
- Complete the 1.5-mile Webster Walkabout Adventure Lab and get the geocache located on the outside of the building
- Write a story that takes place in one of the featured exhibits of the museum
- Create a scavenger hunt for artifacts in the exhibits
Additional Information
Created and run by volunteers, the Webster Museum and Historical Society is free for community members to enjoy. Make sure to check their website webstermuseum.org before visiting so you don’t miss the hours they are open to the public. They happily host free field trips for schools and community groups.
