Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum Open May 1

                                               

Sodus Point, NY — The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum, located at 7606 North Ontario Street in Sodus Point, is opening for its 31st season at 10 a.m. onFriday, May 1. Built in 1870, the beautiful, historic lighthouse was used to guide ships on Lake Ontario to safe harbor in Sodus Bay.  Use of the light was discontinued in 1901, having been made redundant by an outer light on the bay’s west pier.  The building now houses a museum, operated by the Sodus Bay Historical Society.  Exhibitions focus on local and maritime history and include displays about lighthouse keepers’ tools, railroads and trolleys, the Erie Canal, and the War of 1812. Visitors can stroll through gardens on the bluff overlooking Lake Ontario, shop in the museum’s store, and climb the 52-step spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse tower for breathtaking, panoramic views of Lake Ontario and Sodus Point. The museum has planned many exciting events for 2015, including several in May: Thank You, Mom! To celebrate Mother’s Day, all mothers visiting the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum on Sunday, May 10, will receive a free gift with paid admission. History Alive! Presentation The museum’s “History Alive!” Lecture Series begins on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sodus Point Village Hall (8356 Bay Street, Sodus Point).  Rob Edelman will present “From Rosie the Riveter to Harriet the Happy Homemaker:  Women on Screen During and After World War II.”  Using film clips from 1940s and 1950s movies, Mr. Edelman will show how women’s roles in society changed as a result of the war.  This free program is made possible by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities with additional support from the Lighthouse Events Sponsors. Memorial Day & Blue Star Museums Program The Museum will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25), which is also the start the Blue Star Museums program, administered by the National Endowment for the Arts.  Active-duty military personnel and up to five family members receive free admission at hundreds of museums around the United States, including the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum.  This program runs until Labor Day. The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum is open Tuesdaythrough Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students (grades K-12).  Preschool children and Sodus Bay Historical Society members are free. For more information, including a full list of upcoming events for 2015, visit the museum’s website at www.sodusbaylighthouse.org or call (315) 483-4936