Quirky roadside attractions in each of New York's 62 counties (2024)

Must-see roadside attractions in each of New York's 62 counties

By Chuck D'Imperio | Contributing writer

From old houses, to quirky pop art, to unusual final resting places, to unknown Upstate legends, and to weird museums, our state has many must-seeroadside landmarks. Here are 62, one from each county, that I have discovered during my travels over the years. Have you been to any of these?

ohn "Mike" Manning via flickr

Albany County

Nipper

While New York's capital city boasts an intriguing landscape, marrying the influences of the Old Dutch founders of Fort Orange with the modern whimsy of Governor Nelson Rockefeller's "Edifice Complex," also known as the Empire State Plaza, few would dispute that the real eye candy in Albany's skyline is a dog. A very big dog. Nipper, the black and white canine mascot of the RCA Victor Company for over a century, stands ear-co*cked and ready to party atop an old warehouse which will be converted into apartments. The four-ton dog was once the tallest object in the Albany landscape and as such needed a guidance beacon attached to one of his ears to warn off low flying airplanes.

Location:991 Broadway, Albany.

Clyde Waterloo via flickr

Allegany County

Oval-shaped roquecourt in downtown Angelica

Roque is a game similar to croquet. It is played with different mallets and different balls, but the gist is the same. There is only one place in America where this long lost game is played, and that is on the center square court in downtown Angelica. ESPN has come to see what the fuss is all about, and an Angelica Roque Tournament is held annually. Although almost nobody plays this game anymore, it is taken very seriously in this, its birthplace. Roque was officially entered as a sport in the 1904 Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis. Only one country fielded a team. The United States.

3FaithsNYPL via flickr

Bronx County

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Here in the tightly packed area of homes, apartments and developments is the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. It is a peaceful respite from the hurly burly of the Bronx outside the front door. It is located south of the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx (east of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens). Part of St. Lucy's Roman Catholic Church, the grotto was built in 1939 at a cost of $10,000. It is an exact replica of the French grotto where little 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary first on Feb. 11, 1858 in Lourdes, France. The grotto is popular with parishioners and neighborhood residents. Many believe the waters here at St. Lucy's holds the same qualities of healing powers as do the waters of the grotto in France.

Location:St. Lucy's Church, 833 Mace St. (at Bronxwood)

mr.thalweg via flickr

Broome County

Final resting place forExterminator and Sun Briar

Exterminator was the name of a horse from Upstate New York who won the Kentucky Derby. The horse had almost never run a sanctioned race before, and in fact was a last minute substitute for Binghamtonian Willis Sharp Kilmer's great steed, Sun Briar, who pulled up lame before the race. Exterminator went off at 30-1 odds and became one of the most improbable racing champions in thoroughbred history. Both Exterminator and Sun Briar are buried in the same plot in a pet cemetery just south of Binghamton's Ross Park Zoo.

Location:Whispering Pines Pet Cemetery, 3850 Gardner Road, Binghamton

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Cattaraugus County

American Museum of Cutlery

If it has a blade, it is probably on display at the American Museum of Cutlerylocated in Cattaraugus, N.Y. It is true, that this western portion of the Empire State once was a center for cutlery making in the U.S. One of the oddest museums in Upstate, and yet very interesting. Knives and forks from a 1680 homestead? Yes. A pocket knife from a Civil War soldier? Got it. A surgical knife kit from a World War II U.S. Army doctor who treated the liberated prisoners at the Dachau death camp? It is here. A quirky, yet fascinating, museum.

Location: 9 Main St., Cattaraugus

hapzydeco via flickr

Cayuga County

Copper John

Copper John is a statue of a Colonial soldier which stands atop the high walls of Auburn Prison. It was made by inmates and has been a weird signature of this maximum state prison since 1821. The statue has been replaced several times due to deterioration from the weather. Recently it was taken down and reworked when some do-gooders complained that old Copper John was depicted just a little too anatomically correct. Being sentenced to Auburn used to mean you were "going to work for Copper John."

Location: Auburn Correctional Facility, 135 State St., Auburn.

Terrell via flickr

Chautauqua County

Palestine Park

Located near the lakefront at the stunning, sprawling Chautauqua Institution is Palestine Park. This tiny replica of the Holy Land sits near the dock where passengers used to arrive at the institute. Little white stones represent the ancient cities of Jericho and Jerusalem, and familiar Bible sites are also featured such as the Mount of Olives. As you stride over this small collection of map places you will feel as if you are a giant walking the Holy Land. The park was installed in 1874 and is built on a scale of 1.75 feet to the mile. Chautauqua Lake represents the Mediterranean Sea.

Location: Chautauqua Institution, 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua

Jayu via flickr

Chemung County

Hellmira Prison Camp Monument

Few people know that Elmira was the home of one of the most notorious and infamous Civil War prison camps of them all. The Elmira camp, known as "Hellmira," saw Confederate soldiers die at an unheard of rate. The camp was a virtual death hole. It was built to hold 6,000 prisoners but took in 12,000. Conditions were toxic. In the first year of the camp, 3,000 of the 12,000 inmates died. A memorial to this sad and tragic chapter of the Civil War makes for an uneasy landmark in this city in the Southern Tier.

Location: Near Water and Gould Streets, Elmira

cretinbob via flickr

Chenango County

Little Merrit's Tomb

When little Merrit Beardsley, only 8 years old, facing his final days battling a severe illness, he turned to his father and said, "Daddy, when I die I am afraid to be in the dark up in the cemetery. Can I have a window so I won't be in the dark?" Daddy came through for his little tyke, and one of the most charming stories of central New York was born. Little Merrit was, in fact, buried in a tomb with a small window opening so he would "never be in the dark." Locals around Oxford tend the "Little Merrit's Grave," and visitors now come from far and wide to see this poignant token of a father's promise to his dying son. A historical marker tells of the grave's location. The tomb inscription reads simply "Little Merrit's Tomb."

Location: Miller Cemetery, Oxford. (The Oxford Historical Society can give you exact directions and informationabout the "window grave.")

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Clinton County

Clare and Carl's Red Hot Stand in Plattsburgh is a food icon in the North Country. This region of Upstate is famous for its own brand of hot dogs, inexplicably called Michigan's. Kind of like a red hot Texas sauce concoction, but not really. They love them up here, and Clare and Carl's have been serving them for generations. The building is not much to look at — in fact it is leaning a little — but some say a Michigan (or Texas Hot) served here is as close to heaven as it gets. The meat sauce has nuances of the classic Greek sauce we know from other hot dog stands in Upstate, but just different enough to make them unique to the Plattsburgh area. One thing is a must though: The frank itself has to be a Malone-made snap-back-at-you Glazier hot dog.

Location:Clare and Carl's Red Hot Stand, 4729 Route 9, Plattsburgh

Columbia County

Virginia O'Hanlon's grave

Virginia O'Hanlon was just 8 years old when she wrote perhaps the most famous Letter to the Editor ever. She wrote to theNew York Sunasking if it was true that there really was a Santa Claus. The paper ran her letter on Sept. 21, 1897, and the rest is history. Dozens of newspapers publish the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" response editorial every year. O'Hanlon was a revered New York State educator who spent her final years in Upstate New York.

Location: Her grave is in Old Chatham Rural Cemetery in Chatham. It sees seasonal visitors who come by every holiday season to pay their respects.

Cortland County

John McGraw statue

John J. McGraw was one of the great lions of baseball. He was a player and also a legendary manager of the New York Giants. His 2,763 victories as a manager rank him in second place, just behind Connie Mack. He was a pioneer, an innovator and one of the great personalities in the sport in the first half of the 20th century. After his death, his wife reportedly found a hidden list that McGraw kept of all the black players he would like to sign if the color barrier was ever broken. A large monument in the middle of tiny Truxton commemorates the memory of their beloved native son, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of fame in 1937.

Location:John J. McGraw statue, Main Street, Truxton

Delaware County

Hanco*ck House Hotel

Eddie Murphy was a member of the infamous Chicago "Black Sox" baseball team scandalized for throwing the 1919 World Series. Eddie was the only starting player of the team not tainted by one of baseball's biggest controversies. Hence his nickname "Honest Eddie." Today in Hanco*ck, there is a large hotel in the center of Main Street. The bar in the Hanco*ck House Hotel is named "Honest Eddie's Tap Room" in his honor. Eddie Murphy was born in this hotel, which was owned by his parents! A small selection of Murphy's memorabilia can be found on the barroom walls.

Location: Hanco*ck House Hotel, 137 East Front Street, Hanco*ck

Dave Hallock via flickr

Dutchess County

The Fork in the Road

We have heard tell about that proverbial fork in the road for years. Well, here it is! A real, 31-foot tall stainless steel fork. Coming off the Taconic Parkway and heading to Red Hook or Rhinebeck? Well, here in little Milan, N.Y., you will actually have your chance to finally see the "fork in the road" ahead of you!

Location:Intersection of routes 308 and 199, Milan

grammaj66 via flickr

Erie County

Vidler on the Roof

There is a giant man on top of a family department store waving at you in downtown East Aurora. The man, Ed Vidler, was one of the founding family members who own Vidler's 5&10 Store. The giant statue is known locally as "Vidler on the Roof." It is said that Vidler's carries over 100,000 different items.

Location: 676-694 Main St., East Aurora

David Burke via flickr

Essex County

Kate Smith was one of America's most beloved entertainers. A significant presence on stage, television, radio and records for over 60 years, Kate lived for 40 years as a summer resident of Lake Placid. When she died on June 17, 1986, she left a bit of a problem behind. In her will, she ordered that the local church would benefit from her estate, but they had to allow her to be buried in a large mausoleum in St. Agnes Cemetery. Problem? No mausoleums were allowed. Teams of lawyers wrangled over this unseemly predicament for months. Kate finally got the mausoleum she wanted, albeit a year later. Many visitors come by the cemetery to pay their respects to the lady who sang "God Bless America" over a thousand times. If you peer into her tomb, you can see a smiling photograph of the beloved songbird underneath a gold inscription of the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. "This is Kate Smith. This is America."

Location: St. Agnes Cemetery, Sentinel at Cascade Roads, Lake Placid (easy to find Kate's grave as it is still the only mausoleum in the cemetery!)

Gary Walts | gwalts@nyup.com

Franklin County

Almanzo Wilder married Laura Ingalls on Aug. 25, 1885, in De Smet, South Dakota. Wilder was born in Malone. He shared his stories of growing up on a rural farm with his writer wife who turned his tales into the classic "Farmer Boy."Laura's greatest fame came with her "Little House on the Prairie"books, but "Farmer Boy"itself is still considered an American classic. The Almanzo Wilder farm, while not on a prairie, is a museum and tourist destination outside of Malone where they keep the story of the Wilders alive for future generations. It is theonlyoriginal house on its original site of all those written about in the Little House series.

Location: Wilder Homestead, 177 Stacy Rd., Malone

Rick via flickr

Fulton County

At one time, Gloversville was the top manufacturing city for gloves in the United States. One out of every three residents in the city worked in the glove-making business, and the city and its suburbs once hosted over 200 glove manufactures. Not any more. But what we do have in Gloversville is a cheeky homage to the city's one-time golden egg, The Glove Theatre. With maybe one of the oddest names for a movie house in Upstate New York, the theater is a historic reminder of the excitement of the good old days in Gloversville. The theater was built in 1914 and was once the jewel in the multi-city Schine Theatre franchise. The dazzling marquee still shines recalling the old theaters past.

Location: Glove Theatre, 42 North Main St., Gloversville

Scott Schild | sschild@nyup.com

Genesee County

Jell-O was invented in Genesee County, and today you can learn all about it at the official Jell-O Museum in Le Roy. Dozens of old advertising displays line the walls, old video and audio tapes of sponsor jingles recall the early days of "America's favorite dessert," and the museum has the absolute best gift shop of any Upstate museum (check out the Jell-O delivery truck pencil sharpener). Also, it was once rumored that a human brain and a Jell-O mold gave out identical electromagnetic waves. True or false? Believe it or not, theyDOanswer that here at the museum!

Location: Jell-O Museum, 23 East Main St., Le Roy.

Greene County

New York's Mount Rushmore

Prattsville founder Zadock Pratt once owned the largest tannery in the world. He was a man of curious tastes and unlimited interests. Fabulously wealthy, he turned his attention to creating the small town that now bears his name. Pratt Rock, at the southern entrance to the village, is a series of hand carved emblems deep into a cave-like arena at the end of a hiking trail. Robert Ripley called it "New York's Mount Rushmore." He even chiseled a tribute to his son, George, who was killed in the Civil War, on the cavern walls. It is believed that the tribute is the first Civil War monument erected in the United States.

Location: Rt. 23, Prattsville (a large sign and parking area denotes the location)

Hamilton County

Malcolm Blue plaque

It is perhaps the most unusual place you will find a tribute to a fallen soldier (except for Pratt Rock) in Upstate. Deep in the Cathedral Pines around Inlet, you will come upon a stone marker with a bronze plaque honoring 2ndLt. Malcolm Blue, a park ranger killed in World War II, affixed to the front of it. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. But it was local resident Blue's favorite locale. Originally placed on a tree, the plaque was re-dedicated on a stone in 1946. Governor Thomas E. Dewey came to the forest for the ceremony. Blue is buried in Vosges, France.

Location: Moose River Plains Wild Forest, Rt. 28 (north side), Between 7thand 8thLakes

Bill Badzo via flickr

Herkimer County

Balloon Farm

The "Balloon Farm" in Frankfort was the base of operations for Carl E. Myers and his wife, Mary. They were hot air balloon pioneers and Carlotta went by the nickname "Carlotta, The Lady Aeronaut." The buildings of the "Balloon Farm" held their many experiments as well as their large balloons when they were not on tour. A series of historical markers in front of the house tells the story of this pioneering show-couple. Mary (Carlotta) was the first American woman to pilot a passenger balloon.

Location: Balloon Farm, West German Street, Frankfort

Courtesy of New York State Zoo

Jefferson County

New York State Zoo

There is no other zoo quite like the New York State Zoo in Watertown. It is the only zoo to exhibit animal species exclusively from, or once found in, the Empire State. The picturesque 32-acre park is home to wolverines, bears, eagles, mountain lions, American Elk, Canada lynx, river otter and others, including Pandora, the female bobcat.

Location: Thompson Park, Watertown

Kings County

A brave little boy's coins

One of the most unusual and sad tributes to any plane crash victim can be found in Brooklyn. On Dec. 16, 1960, two passenger airliners crashed head on over the skies of Staten Island. One of the planes crashed into the streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn. All 128 on board both planes died, but one passenger did not die immediately. Little 10-year-old Stephen Baltz of Willmette, Ill., lingered for 24 hours before succumbing to his burns. During that one day period, the city of New York poured out their prayerful hearts for the boy's recovery. It was not to be. When the child died he was carrying 65 cents in pocket change in his pants. Today you can find those coins affixed to a memorial plaque in the chapel at New York's Methodist Hospital. The child's actual coins, nickels and dimes, are cemented to it next to the legend: "A memorial to a brave little boy."

Location: New York Methodist Hospital, Phillips Chapel, 506 6thSt., Brooklyn

murphman61 via flickr

Lewis County

Lady LaWinda Milkzalot

She is the biggest cow in New York. The giant bovine is the mascot of Lowville, where they manufacture Kraft cream cheese. The cow is named Lady LaWinda Milkzalot. The massive cow, easily seen from the main highway, has been known to be adorned with a zany series of outfits, including straw hats and sunglasses in the summertime. The fiberglass cow is 10 feet tall and fifteen feet long. Lowville is home to the largest Kraft cream cheese plant in the U.S., and the community celebrates their relationship with the food by holding a Cream Cheese Festival each September.

Location:Cow is in front of Lowville Producer's Dairy, Rt. 12 and Rt. 26.

Fred O'Bryant via flickr

Livingston County

Clara Barton's house

If you ever had to guess at where thefirstchapter of the American Red Cross was, you would almost never guess Dansville, New York. Yet, it is here in this village of 4,712 people in Western New York. Clara Barton had a home in Dansville for many years and organized her first American Red Cross chapter here in 1881. It is now still an active Red Cross office and a small museum in tribute to Ms. Barton.

Location: American Red Cross Chapter #1, 57 Elizabeth Street, Dansville

Kathe Harrington for NYup.com

Madison County

The Yellow Brick Road

The author of The Wizard of Oz was born in Chittenango on May 15, 1856. The village remembers their native son in many ways. The biggest is an annual Oz-Stravaganza, which draws thousands for a day of parades, presentations, celebrity sightings and general Ozmania. The cleverest memorial to the author, however, has to be the sidewalks of Chittenango. Yes, they are paved with yellow bricks, which run down both sides of the business district.

Location: Downtown Chittenango

Brad Mohr via flickr

Monroe County

Whispering Pines Miniature Golf

The Whispering Pines Miniature Golf is the oldest such attraction in the United States. Located just north of Rochester, the course is a gentle throwback to the old days of putting golf balls through windmills, over painted creeks, through a lighthouse and into a clown's mouth. The course opened in 1930 and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places as America's oldest miniature golf course.

Location:4353 Culver Rd., Sea Breeze (Irondequoit)

upstreamblog via flickr

Montgomery County

The dummy light

Decades ago America was dotted with hundreds of pedestal traffic lights, known as "dummy lights." Through the years, these lights have disappeared as traffic lights were hung above tricky intersections to avoid interfering with traffic. Not so in Canajoharie. They have the only remaining dummy light in Upstate New York. In fact, there are only three such lights left in New York State. The other two are in downstate Beacon and Croton-on-Hudson.

Location: Downtown Canajoharie

Neil R via flickr

Nassau County

Checkers' final resting place

Perhaps the most famous "presidential" pet of all time was President Richard Nixon's co*cker spaniel Checkers. The dog become famous when the president mentioned his daughter's pet in a nationally televised speech to 60 million viewers on the night of Sept. 23, 1952. He was defending his acceptance of remuneration from his backers as his slot on the GOP ticket was being questioned. The speech is forever referred to as the "Checker's Speech." Checkers is buried in a Long Island pet cemetery. Two names are in the front of the gravestone. "Nixon" and "Checkers."

Location:Bide-a-Wee Pet Cemetery, Wantagh, Long Island. Section 5, Row A, Site 38D.

New York County

McSorley's Old Ale House

McSorley's Old Ale House in New York City is one of the most fabled saloons in America. It was also the last bar in New York City to admit women (Aug. 10, 1970). In its earliest days the proprietor would prepare a turkey dinner for the local soldiers who were going off to fight in World War I. Tradition had it that the doughboys would string their turkey wishbones along a ceiling wire to be picked up after they returned home. For many decades, the sad wishbones of the soldiers who never came back from the war have been hanging over the heads of patrons at this, the oldest Irish bar in New York City.

Location:McSorley's Old Ale House, 15 East 7thStreet, New York City.

Dave Seitzer via flickr

Niagara County

The Upside Down Bridge

Just a few hundred feet down from the famous "Flight of Five" locks in Lockport is a very unusual sight. It is known as the "Upside Down Bridge." It is a head-scratcher. The trusses which support the bridge hang low below it rather than rising above it. Nobody really knows why this was done, although some old canal watchers say it is because the railroads hated the competition of the new-fangled Erie Canal and the low ceiling provided by the "Upside Down Bridge" meant only smaller commercial craft could uses the canal and the locks.

Location: Lockport, "Flight of Five," below the famous stair step canal locks. Easily viewed from several places around this popular tourist destination.

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Oneida County

H.P. Sears Oil Museum

No, it is not a mirage. There, gleaming in the afternoon sun amid the new government buildings of Rome, New York, is a brilliant white throwback to the 1930s. It is the gas station of our grandfather's youth! This vision of nostalgia is officially called the H.P. Sears Oil Museum, but just come and wander around. It is amazing. Everything dates from the 1930s when Sears was a big name in fuel in this part of Upstate. It is all here, just as the old timers remember it: Glass dome gas pumps, red-white-and-blue colors on the equipment, an underground oil changing station, and more. You half expect a guy in a crushed cap with a rag hanging out of his back pocket to come out of the little office and say, "Fill 'er up, Sonny?"

Location: 201 North George St., Rome

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Onondaga County

Willow Museum

We all know the great, storied landmarks of the Liverpool area. The salt potatoes, Heid's hots, Onondaga Lake, etc. But did you know that Liverpool was once known for their fancy, sturdy homemade baskets? Apparently, the long reeds found around Onondaga Lake were perfect to make large baskets. In fact, the basket-making industry was the leading business in Liverpool for many years. The Willow Museum holds workshops and displays many priceless baskets donated by Liverpool residents, mostly of German ancestry, whose ancestors helped make. In 1892 alone, Liverpool residents made and sold nearly 400,000 willow reed baskets. An odd museum, but a fascinating story.

Location: 314 Second St., Liverpool

Scott Schild | sschild@nyup.com

Ontario County

Two-story brick outhouse

OK, so maybe it is not the perfect Chamber of Commerce-worthy icon for a community. But when you have it, run with it! Phelps is the home of the only two-story brick outhouse in America. Yup, you heard that correctly. Attached to the back of the historical society in Phelps is an elegant Victorian-style two-story outhouse. The house was built in 1869. For those interested, it is a six-holer. Three up, and three down.

Location: 66 Main St., Phelps.

Orange County

Brotherhood Winery

Here is how they did it. Brotherhood Winery continued to sell wine throughout the era of Prohibition by selling it only to churches for sacramental purposes. So, since they have never stopped producing wines since they first opened their doors in 18399, Brotherhood Winery is certified as America's oldest continuously operating winery. Today, the winery sprawls over many acres and is a destination point for tourists and visitors from all over the world.

Location: 100 Brotherhood Plaza Dr., Washingtonville.

Brendan McKeon via flickr

Orleans County

Under the Erie Canal

The Erie Canal stretches along a fairly straight line from Albany to Buffalo, some 363 miles. Roads, tow paths, highways and even today's thruways parallel this engineering marvel from one end to the other. But there is only one place where you can really do something unusual. Drive under the Erie Canal. And that place is right here in Medina, New York. Sure, it is not much of an underpass, but those who like their thrills short and sweet delight in traversing the little tunnel that goes under the canal. A sign at the entrance to the tunnel tells us that this little Erie Canal anomaly did not escape the roving eye of Robert Ripley and his "Believe it or Not" crew.

Location: Culvert Road, Medina

Oswego County

TheMajor Elisha Henson

Thousands of ships took part in the massive D-Day invasion of Europe in June of 1944. Among those ships were a small fleet of tugboats. Although their stories will never ring with those told by the great names of the mighty destroyers and battleships, the tugs were vital to the success of the operation. They lugged hundreds of thousands of tons of equipment back and forth, day in and day out, during the invasion. Because they were tugboats they had minimal armaments on board. One tug, theMajor Elisha Henson, became suspicious of a group of German fighter planes flying overhead during the invasion and decided to take action. The small crew of the tug manned their only gun and shot down an enemy aircraft on June 9, 1944. That ship is docked today at the H. White Museum in Oswego. It is the only tugboat to have shot down an enemy aircraft and on the side of her grey smokestack is the image of a swastika and a plane, signifying her historic kill.

Location: H. Lee White Marine Museum, 1 West 1stSt., Oswego

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Otsego County

The Cardiff Giant

The "Greatest Hoax Ever Perpetrated on the American Public." When the Cardiff Giant was dug up on Stub Newell's farm in 1869 it created a stir that rocked the nation. Could he really have been a giant that once walked the earth? He looked so real. Huge, but real. In fact, he was over 10 feet tall and weighed in at nearly 3,000 pounds. His prankster creators had even poked his"skin" with knitting needles to give him a realistic look. The Cardiff Giant now slumbers eternally at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown where he has been the main attraction for generations. No hyperbole is too grand to scream out the wonders of this fake man at the exhibit here. "Taller Than Goliath Who David Slew!" "The Most Valuable Single Exhibit in the World Today!" "P.T. Barnum Offered $150,000 for the Giant." Well, you get the picture.

Location:Farmers Museum, Rt. 80, Cooperstown

Putnam County

Gold Star Mothers Memorial

It is one of the saddest statues in Upstate New York. Located in a public park in Carmel, the "Gold Star Mothers Memorial" depicts a World War II era mother holding a phone receiver. A crumpled telegram is in her hand and a broken flower pot signals that tragedy has fallen on this woman and her family. The statue will speak to you with its quiet eloquence. Thousands of mothers who have lost sons and daughters in combat have flown the single star flag in their window since the organization began in 1928.

Location: Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park, Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel

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Queens County

Louis Armstrong's grave

When you conjure the image of jazz superstar Louis Armstrong, there are several unmistakable components to his unforgettable persona: The gravelly voice, the pop eyes, the wide "satchel mouth" toothy grin," the signature "oh, yeah," and others. Two of the most unmistakable trademarks of the entertainer are his trumpet and the white handkerchief which he always held in his had to mop the sweat off his brow. His grave, in Queens, carries the gold inscription "Satchmo" across the front. On top of his memorial stone is a marble trumpet lying on a white marble handkerchief! "Oh, yeah ..."

Location:Flushing Cemetery, 163 46th St., Flushing. Plot is in Section 9.

ArtFan70 via flickr

Rensselaer County

Uncle Sam statue

Sam Wilson was the most famous meatpacker our country ever had. During the War of 1812, he would mark his meat barrels intended for the military with a "US." What did it mean? Well, it ultimately ended up meaningUncle Sam,and an American icon was born. At one time, Wilson's meatpacking business in Troy was sending out 5,000 barrels of meat and pork a year. Markers at his grave tell of his legend. A heroic statue of Uncle Sam, striding larger than life in all his aluminum glory, can be found in downtown Troy.

Location: Near Riverfront Park, downtown Troy

Richmond County

The Godfather House

It is easily one of the most recognized "movie homes" in New York State. Located at 110 Longfellow Drive, the residence is known as the Godfather House. The exterior was seen in many of the movies most memorable vignettes. Although the interior scenes were shot on a movie set, the recent owners have renovated interior areas of the house to resemble the Corleone family estate as well, particularly the Godfather's home office where the first scene in the iconic movie takes place. The 6,300-square foot house has recently been on the market for nearly $3 million.

Located:110 Longfellow Rd., Emerson Hill, Staten Island

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Rockland County

"Last Stop U.S.A." statue

Camp Shanks was the largest World War II embarkation base in the U.S. Over a million soldiers came here, trained here and shipped out from here. Large transports would load the men up at the Hudson River, take the down and around the Statue of Liberty and on to Europe for D-Day. It is estimated that 75 percent of all soldiers involved in the D-Day invasion came from Camp Shanks. The camp was known as "Last Stop U.S.A." An emotional statue of a soldier waving goodbye to his buddies reminds us that many of the G.I.s did not return.

Location: Piermont Pier (along the shore of the Hudson River)

James Peltzer via flickr

St. Lawrence County

Largest Roll of Lifesavers Candy

The "Largest Roll of Lifesavers Candy" is a head-spinner if there ever was one. This giant 10-foot long candy icon honors the memory of Gouverneur native and candy founder, Edward J. Noble. Five of these monster sweet treats hung from the sides of candy's headquarters in Port Chester, N.Y. for years. When that closed down, the lone survivor was presented to Gouverneur as a tribute to Noble. The flavor, by the way, is Pep-O-Mint.

Location: Main Street, Gouverneur

Hank Domin | hdomin@nyup.com

Saratoga County

Arnold Boot Monument

Major General Benedict Arnold was a heroic officer in the Continental Army who performed valiantly in battle. Of course his name today is synonymous with treason. Three times during the Revolutionary War Arnold was injured in the leg. The last injury, sustained when his horse was shot out from under him at the Battle of Saratoga, was the most serious and would follow him the rest of his life. Today, a curious monument to his, well, his leg, is found on the battlefield. It shows his leg, boots, leggings, stirrups and all at the exact stop where his injury occurred. The name Arnold is nowhere to be found on this most curious war monument.

Location:Saratoga National Park. It can be seen when taking a tour of the battlefield.

Schenectady County

Wedgeway Barber Shop

The Wedgeway Barber Shop is the oldest barber shop in New York State. It first opened its doors offering a shave and a haircut (and local gossip) in 1912. It has all the hallmarks of your grandfather's barber shop: Lots of chrome and leather seating, pump-up barber chairs, the whirling red-white-and–blue barber pole outside the window, and all the combs and brushes cleaning themselves in a glass jar of mysterious blue liquid on the old marble counter top. The cash register is original, so it only goes up to $9.99. So that is the price of a basic cut. Old-timers tell of when movie star Tom Mix came into the shop for a cut. And he brought his horse, Tony, in with him! Stop in for a historic cut at the Wedgeway. Like they say, "If the pole is spinning, we are trimming!"

Location: 277 State St., Schenectady

Paul via flickr

Schoharie County

Old Stone Church

When the 1,000 Loyalists and Indians laid siege to this stone fort on Oct. 17, 1780, the walls stood and the enemy moved on. Built as a Reformed Dutch Church in 1772, the fort was an integral protector of the villages and the people of the Schoharie Valley over the years. Today it is a museum. The architecture is interesting in that the names of the earliest parishioners are inscribed on theexteriorof the stone walls of the structure. But the fun little historic factoid here is around back. There, up along the roofline, is an actual cannon hole fired during the siege. The sign reads: "Cannon ball hole made when the fort was attacked by the British and the Indians during the Raid of 1780."

Location: 145 Fort Rd., Schoharie

Schuyler County

Bagg Dare Wine Company

Three wineries at one stop! But it is the Bagg Dare Wine Company that will leave you scratching your head. They decided on a pirate motif here, and nothing was left to chance. Located in an area of the winery they call Rogue Hollow, they feature a scary swampy atmosphere (a creepy sign warns "no swimin'"), pirate rum kegs stuck in trees, a pirate skeleton driving an old truck, and a life-like crocodile snapping at your feet. The wines are for the adventurous and the whole experience here is fun. Located with two other venues at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates. Their motto is "Bold, Brazen and Brilliant!"

Location: 623 Lerch Road, Geneva

Seneca County

The Scythe Tree

In 1861, a young soldier named Wyman Johnson flung his farmer's scythe into an old Balm of Gilead tree in front of his home in Waterloo and walked off to join the Civil War. He told his mother he would retrieve it when he returned. He died in the war, and his farm implement stayed in the tree. In 1918, two other brothers hung their scythes in the same tree as they went off to fight in World War I. They did return. Today there are three scythe's and one American flag flying from this tree in an unusual and somber tribute to those who went off to war and either came back or did not. One of the scythe's, the original one, is barely visible as the old tree has almost swallowed it up. It is a curious roadside attraction. All three blade tips have been painted so the passerby can easily find them in the trunk of the 100-foot tall tree. A sign near the tree (which is on private property) tells the story of the Scythe Tree.

Location: On NYS Rt. 5 halfway between Waterloo and Geneva (mail box number is 841).

Steuben County

Canisteo's living sign

Robert Ripley must have surely worn out a set of tires exploring the Upstate region. In Canisteo he found the "World's Largest Living Sign." Behind the Canisteo-Greenwood school building, you can clearly (at times) see the word CANISTEO spelled out on a small hillside. The sign was "written" more than 80 years ago when a school group of students planted 280 small pine trees spelling out each letter of the town's name.

Located: Behind the Greenwood-Canisteo school. Easily seen from the street.

Suffolk County

The giant duck

A Long Island farmer, Martin Maurer, built this giant duck to help promote his duck farm. It was built out of concrete and stands 18 feet wide, 30 feet long, and 20 feet tall. It is a popular Flanders photo op destination for locals and tourists alike. The giant quacker is usually decorated with holiday lights during the Christmas season. A local group called The Friends of the Big Duck is tasked with keeping a preservationists eye on this national landmark.

Location: Route 24, Flanders, N.Y.

Sullivan County

Bagel flag

Monticello is the official "Birthplace of the Bagel" by proclamation of the Legislature of the State of New York (Senator John Bonacic, Feb. 5, 2013). Apparently the first mass-producing bagel machine was invented here. The city holds an annual Bagelfest, and the Monticello Bagel Bakery still is the go-to place for a bagel and a schmear. Just inside the front door you will find a huge American flag made out of red-white-and-blue colored bagel. It measures 6 feet by 5 feet is considered to be somewhat of a local icon.

Location:Monticello Bagel, 475 Broadway, Monticello

Tioga County

Tioga County Historical Society Museum's brass chandelier

The Tioga County Historical Society Museum is the overseer of a treasure trove of local history. It has several floors of exhibits and many revolving exhibits. One of the most astonishing items is what has been called "the most valuable chandelier in Upstate New York." It hung for many years in a local firehouse and it is a sight to see. The brass chandelier depicts firemen, fire apparatus, fire wagons and more all hard at work. There are several ornate glass globes providing the light (they are etched with the number 5 on them denoting the station number). The huge light weighs several hundred pounds and is quite unlike anything you will see in Upstate. Oh, and it was made by Tiffany!

Location:Tioga Historical Society Museum (main hall), 110 Front St., Owego

Internet Archive Book Images via flickr

Tompkins County

North Dakota flag

John Miller was a millionaire "bonanza farmer" in North Dakota who was elected the governor of the state and took office on Nov. 20, 1889, as the new state's very first governor. He was originally from Central New York. When he died in 1908, his body was brought back for burial in Dryden, just outside of Ithaca. The North Dakota state flag flies from a large pole in front of his large mausoleum.

Location: Miller Mausoleum, Green Hills Cemetery (section 2), Dryden

Arielle Mark via flickr

Ulster County

Opus 40

Just outside of the village of Saugerties, you will see the amazing six-acre bluestone sculpture known as Opus 40. The wandering piece of art encompasses ramps, bridges, walkways, stone pedestals, gracefully curving walls and jagged cliffs. It was all laid by hand by local quarryman Harvey Fite in 1939.

Location:50 Fite Rd., Saugerties

las - initially via flickr

Warren County

Cherry gondolas

In 1967, Gore Mountain became the first New York ski center to use ski lift gondolas. Today, more than a half century later, these curious little red "cherry gondolas" can be found dotting the landscape of the village of North Creek. They are popular photo ops for tourists and are even used for wedding backdrops. Gore Mountain is one of three state-owned ski resorts and offers over 100 different trails.

Location: The Gore Mountain "cherry gondolas" are located around the village.

iane cordell via flickr

Washington County

Birthplace of pie a la mode

The Cambridge Hotel first opened in 1885. It had its ups and downs over the years and finally had the ultimate "down" when it recently closed for good. The old sign out front declared for years the food niche for which this once glorious Saratoga-area grand hotel was known for. It was the "Birthplace of Pie a la Mode." A wealthy guest, Professor Charles Townsend, ordered the never-before-offered warm pie with a dollop of cold ice cream on top in the 1890s. It was such a hit it soon was appearing on the menus of fancy New York restaurants, including Delmonicos. The Cambridge Hotel is now an assisted living center, but they saved the sign and it is on display in the main hallway. It is not known if they serve pie a la mode.

Location: The Cambridge Assisted Living Center, 4 West Main St., Cambridge (the sign and other hotel historical items can be found on the main floor near the grand staircase)

Carol via flickr

Wayne County

Venus Rising from the Sea

Yes, she is nude. Here in the center of this small village of Wolcott is a most unusual state/fountain. Venus rises out of a pool, naked but carefully draped so as not to cause car accidents. Surrounding her are her attending cherubs. The fountain was installed in 1913. Eight of them were made, and this is the only one in Upstate New York. It is made out of cast iron and is painted with flesh toned paint, and her drape covering is blue. "Venus Rising from the Sea" was originally lit at night (no more) and was used as a drinking fountain for humans, and a water trough for horses!

Location: Main intersection, downtown Wolcott

James Oleson via flickr

Westchester County

History of Sing Sing

If you were bad, really bad, in the old days you were sent "up the river to the big house." Well, the river was the Hudson River and the "big house" was the notorious Sing Sing Prison. Today a small museum tells the story of the famous pokey. The museum is free, and inside you can see an exact replica of "Old Sparky," the state's original electric chair. Prisoners made this replica using the schematics used to build the original. There are also two jail cells that you can go in and see for yourself the cramped living quarters provided to the prisoners.

Location: Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining

Joed Viera for NYup.com

Wyoming County

New York's Gaslight Village

The village of Wyoming (same name as the county) welcomes you with a sign telling that they are "New York's Gaslight Village." The village was actually built over a natural gas field which even today heats many of the homes here as well as lighting the old-fashioned gas lamps along the village's sidewalks.

Location:Flickering natural gas lamps can be seen throughout the village

Ida Lively via flickr

Yates County

World's largest pancake griddle

Penn Yan decided to celebrate its fame as a buckwheat producer by making the world's largest pancake. And they did it! On Sept. 27, 1987, the whole town got together and started creating a flapjack of monstrous proportions. It was so big that a concrete mixer truck was brought in to mix the ingredients. A large fire cooked the pancake and at just the right moment the huge homemade griddle was flipped by a crane. The Guinness Book of World Records certified the village's achievement. The "world's largest pancake griddle" still hangs off the exterior wall of the Birkett Mills Company sharing Penn Yan's fame with all that pass by.

Location:1 E. Main St., Penn Yan

Eternal Flame Falls. Joed Viera for NYup.com

Read more: Natural marvels of Upstate NY

While everyone knows about Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks, here are 12 lesser-known natural marvels in Upstate New York.