Letchworth State Park Things to Do

4 more images

This sign post was my first introduction to the story of Mary Jemison. It told very little about her other than that the flats on which I was looking down had been her home for 50 years and she had been known as the white woman of the Genesee; a statue of her stood in "the Council Grounds near Glen Iris".
I thought no more about it but the following morning I woke early in our room in the Glen Iris Inn and went out for a walk in the lovely gardens and grounds surounding the hotel. After a while a path led to a clearing in the trees and I came to the statue, a large bronze, and striking figure of a young woman in the traditional dress of a Native Indian, carrying a baby on her back
The stillness of the place and the beauty of the figure captured my imagination. I walked on to find two log cabins - the Council House and the cabin built by Mary for one of her children.

Back at the hotel in the shop I bought a brief history of Mary. Born at sea to migrating Scots-Irish parents in 1743 Mary lived with them in Philadelphia until she was 14 years old.
Then, in a clash between French soldiers and Shawnee warriors, Mary was abducted by the Shawnees, all her family killed.
Mary was sold to the Senecas who adopted her and later she married one of the tribe. They fled together fearful that she, like other captives would be "returned " now the "Indian" wars were over. Carrying their baby on her back they trekked 700 miles but the young husband died as they reached his relatives who cared for her.
Mary remarried and had 6 more children but her troubles were not over . The American War of Independence brought more fighting; the Seneccas were one of the tribes that backed the British. Mary survived endless losses and privation, never losing the respect of the Senerca people. She died in September 1833 aged 90.

To learn more about the missing bits of Mary's story see -

http://www.letchworthparkhistory.com/jem.html

4 more images

This trail takes you past Letchworth's three waterfalls, around the Big Bend, and downstream from there. It's a long hike, but you don't have to follow all of it. Just pick out the parts you really want to see.

4 more images

This is a side trip off of the main trail, which takes you all the way down into the depths of the gorge. Down here, one gets a different perspective. The climb in and out is fairly steep, but not too long. It's well worth it, if you have an hour to spare.

2 more images

Another nice little side trip is to Wolf Creek. This is a pleasant place with a creek and picnic grounds. From here, one can see the top of Wolf Creek Falls. A better view can be seen from one of the nearby overlooks.

4 more images

Near the Visitors Center is a small museum. It's only about the size of a modest house, but has an impressive collection of historical memorabilia from the area. This is an excellent way to learn about this park, and the man who set this land aside for future generations.

1 more image

Set on the hill above the Glen Iris Hotel is a Seneca Indian council House and the grave of Mary Jemison. She had been abducted by Seneca Indians as a child and raised as a Seneca with the name of Dehweganus. She lived out her life as a Seneca. Her grave was moved here after her burial ground was threatened with development and her grandchildren were allowed by William Letchworth to bring her remains here. Her grave and the Seneca house are part of Letchworth’s efforts in preserving the Seneca Indian culture.

3 more images

Standing high above the Genesee River just upstream of the Upper Falls is the Potage Bridge. The present trestle replaced an earlier wooden structure which when built in 1852 was the World’s tallest wooden structure. The current bridge is actively used by the Norfolk & Southern Railroad.

2 more images

Roughly a half mile further upstream from the Middle Falls, the 70 foot high horseshoe-shaped Upper Falls starts out the cascading fun along the Genesee River. Trails lead to nice vantage points of the falls and the towering rail bridge high above.