Cities and Villages of the Finger Lakes Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which city is the home of William H. Seward, Harriet Tubman, Theodore Case and a New York State prison? Minor League Baseball is played there, and it is located about one mile north of Owasco Lake.

Answer: Auburn

In Auburn you can tour the house of Harriet Tubman, where she settled after the Civil War. William H. Seward's home if full of history of the Civil War and many Alaskan artifacts. The Cayuga Museum is the former home of Theodore Case, where he and his staff worked in his lab to put sound in motion pictures.

The lab is part of the museum. Auburn Correctional Facility is New York State's oldest prison and was the site of the first execution by the Electric Chair in the world. Auburn is the county seat of Cayuga County.

The Auburn Doubledays are the Class A team of the Toronto Bluejays in the New York-Penn League. Cayuga, Weedsport and Owasco are villages near Auburn in Cayuga County. Owasco Lake is about 11 miles long.

2. This city is home to two well-known colleges and was an important area in the silent film era. What is the name of this city on the southern end of Cayuga Lake?

Answer: Ithaca

Ithaca is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College. Many silent films were made there. The Ithaca Gun Company made great shotguns. Ithaca is the county seat of Tompkins County. Ithaca is surrounded by beautiful gorges, waterfalls and State Parks. Lansing, Cayuga Heights and Newfield are villages near Ithaca in Tompkins County. Cayuga Lake is about 40 miles long and is the longest of the Finger Lakes.

3. This village is home of the Motor Racing Research Center, a famous race track and a State Park. It is located on the southern tip of Seneca Lake. Name it.

Answer: Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen attracts many people who are interested in Motor Sports. NASCAR has a race there every year. Watkins Glen State Park is one of the most beautiful places in the Northeast. Watkins Glen is the county seat of Schuyler County. Montour Falls, Odessa and Townsend are other villages in Schuyler County. Seneca Lake is the second longest Finger Lake of 38 miles, but is the largest by volume.

4. What city has been nicknamed "The Lake Trout Capital of the World"? Hobart and William Smith College are found there, as well as a State Park. It is located on the northern end of Seneca Lake.

Answer: Geneva

Geneva attracts anglers from all over. Seneca Lake State park is located there on the north shore of Seneca lake. Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from Hobart and William Smith College, then called Geneva College, and was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the USA. Seneca Castle, Flint and Phelps are villages near Geneva in Ontario County.

5. This village holds a Bathtub Race each year. It was home to Abigail Powers, wife of President Millard Fillmore. It has a state park and a medium-security prison. What is this village near the southern end of Owasco Lake?

Answer: Moravia

President Millard Fillmore married Abigail in Moravia. The village holds a Bathtub race each year during "Fillmore Days" to commemorate President Fillmore installing the first bathtub in the White House (this may only be legend). Fillmore Glen State Park is in Moravia. Cayuga Correctional Facility sits a couple miles up the road. New Hope, Locke and Summerhill are nearby, all in Cayuga County. Summerhill is the birthplace of President Fillmore and his boyhood home is near New Hope.

The boyhood home of John D. Rockefeller is a few miles north of the Moravia.

6. A sign in this village says it is "The Eastern Entrance to the Finger Lakes". Welch Allyn has employed many people there for years. Identify this village at the northern end of Skaneateles Lake.

Answer: Skaneateles

Skaneateles is a beautiful village full of small shops and great places to eat. The Skaneateles Antique and Classic Boat Show is held there every year. Along with all water activities, you can watch a polo game. Welch Allyn has been a family industry for many decades and makes quality medical equipment. Elbridge, Marcellus and Camillus are all villages in Onondaga County. Skaneateles Lake is 17 miles long.

7. This village is the "The Birthplace of Memorial Day". It has the Memorial Day Museum. What is the name of this village situated on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal?

Answer: Waterloo

Waterloo was officially declared the Birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966 by Congress, and always celebrates the holiday on the traditional May 30th. Waterloo is the county seat of Seneca County. The Cayuga-Seneca Canal connects Cayuga and Seneca Lakes and it goes through Waterloo. Lodi, Interlaken and Ovid are towns in Seneca County.

8. Which village was the home of aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss? Acres and acres of vineyards surround the village to support its many wineries. It is found at the southern tip of Keuka Lake.

Answer: Hammondsport

Hammondsport is the champagne center of America. If you want to take a tour of the wineries, have a designated driver or go on a guided bus or limo tour as all the wineries offer samples. The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is also there. Keuka Lake is the only Finger Lake that is shaped like a "Y" and is 20 miles long. Bath, Penn Yan and Branchport are villages that are near Keuka Lake.

9. This city has the beautiful Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens. It's the county seat of Ontario County. Susan B. Anthony was tried in court in this city for trying to vote. It also has a veterans hospital. What is the name of this city situated on the north end of Canandaigua Lake?

Answer: Canandaigua

From Canandaigua you can ski, go boating, go for a night of dirt track racing, golf, visit wineries and just enjoy being a tourist. Roseland Waterpark is located there, as is the Finger Lakes Community College. Bloomfield, Naples and Shortsville are nearby villages in Ontario County. Canandaigua Lake is about 15 miles long.

10. This village is important in women's history in the US. The first Women's Rights Convention was held there in 1848. The National Women's Hall of Fame and the Women's Rights National Park are there as well (Waterloo also is home to part of the Women's Rights National Park). This village is located on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal just east of Waterloo. What is this village's name?

Answer: Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls may be the real "Bedford Falls" form Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life". Frank Capra went through there in 1945 and there are many similarities between fictional Beford Falls and the real Seneca Falls. Amelia Bloomer's house and Elizabeth Cady Stanton's house are both in Seneca Falls. Romulus, Tyre and Fayette are towns in Seneca County. Seneca County is also noted for its large Amish population.

There are smaller lakes of The Finger Lakes which include" Otisco, which is 6 miles long; Honeoye, which is 5.5 miles long; Canadice which is 6.5 miles long; Hemlock, which is 7 miles long; and Conesus which is 8 miles long.

Source: Author stevroll

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State is home to many small cities and villages. The area is full of history, beauty and wine. Try this quiz and if you have never been to The Finger Lakes, please consider visiting.

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