For a village of nearly 2,000, Cooperstown has cultural offerings few places of its size can come close to matching. Its galleries, museums, historic and artistic organizations, and local artists make Cooperstown a cultural crown jewel in Central New York.

Cooperstown is home to the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA). In 1939, Stephen C. Clark offered the Association a new home in the village of Cooperstown. Clark, an avid collector, took an active interest in expanding the holdings of the Association and in 1944 donated Fenimore House, one of his family's properties, to be used as a new headquarters and museum. The impressive neo-Georgian structure was built in the 1930s on the site of James Fenimore Cooper's early 19th century farmhouse on the shore of Otsego Lake, Cooper's Glimmerglass. Fenimore House was large enough to have both extensive exhibition galleries as well as office and library space. The collections and programs continued to expand and a separate library building was constructed in 1968. In 1995 a new 18,000 square foot wing was added to Fenimore House to house the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection which is one of the nation's premier collections of American Indian Art. In 1999 in recognition of their world class collections the name Fenimore House Museum was changed to the Fenimore Art Museum. Visit www.nysha.org

The New York State Historical Association is a private, non-governmental educational organization. It is closely affiliated with its sister organization, The Farmers' Museum. The Museum opened its doors to the public in 1944 and is dedicated to representing American rural life as typified in Central New York by preserving the past, recording the present and educating for the future. The site of The Farmers' Museum has deep roots in New York State's rural past. The land has been part of a working farm since 1813, when it was owned by James Fenimore Cooper. Judge Samuel Nelson, whose office is part of The Farmers' Museum Village, bought the farm in 1829 and raised sheep. Fenimore Farm, as it came to be known, changed hands again in the 1870s, when it was acquired by the Clark family. Visit www.farmersmuseum.org

The Cooperstown Art Association (CAA) was formed in 1928 by a group of six professional artists to serve and maintain interest in the applied and fine arts as well as provide the means to increase the community’s awareness and participation. In addition to an extensive exhibit schedule, CAA offers interactive art classes and workshops along with our ongoing figure drawing class. They also sponsor demonstrations, lectures, studio tours, performances and film series often coordinating their efforts with other groups and organizations.

The Glimmerglass Opera has offered professional opera every summer since 1975. The company's acclaimed Alice Busch Opera Theater, which opened in June 1987, is located along the shores of Otsego Lake. www.glimmerglass.org

For nearly 40 years, the Cooperstown Concert Series has been providing premier live entertainment of a wide variety at three venues withing the village limits. www.cooperstownconcertseries.org

The Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival began in 1999 and offers Central New York audiences of all ages an opportunity to hear internationally renowned artists performing a rich and innovative repertoire of masterworks, lesser known treasures, and contemporary compositions. A series of concerts is held during the summer months at five different venues in and around Cooperstown. www.cooperstownmusicfest.org

Every summer in Lakefront Park, the Cooperstown Community Band holds concerts. The Community Band has been performing regularly since the Civil War years.

The Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts is a regional arts service organization that supports Cooperstown area amateur and professional artists through programs, workshops, monthly exhibits and grants. www.uccca.com

An excellent educational system and variety of recreational offerings make Cooperstown an ideal place to raise your family. The Cooperstown Central School District prides itself on schools that rank high academically and are fully accredited in all areas. Over 1,100 students attend three public schools, and nearly 90% of its graduates go on to some form of post secondary education, with many entering challenging four year colleges and universities.

The Brookwood School, on nearby county Route 59, is an independent, not-for-profit school governed by a Board of Trustees and is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools. With nearly 100 students presently enrolled, Brookwood School begins with an infant program and culminates in the sixth grade.

The State University College at Oneonta has a strong presence in Cooperstown, on the western shores of Otsego Lake. The Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP) is the premier program for the training of museum professionals in the United States. One of only two programs in the country located on a museum campus rather than a university campus, students have the opportunity to interact regularly with museum professional staff, with objects, and with exhibitions. CGP has strong partners in the New York State Historical Association, The Farmers' Museum, and Fenimore Art Museum.

Additionally, Cooperstown is home to the Biological Field Station, a facility of the State University College at Oneonta. The main laboratory is just north of the Farmer's Museum. It is uniquely situated to provide excellent opportunities for field studies by advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The lab serves as a focus for analytical procedures essential for research activities in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.