Southern Cayuga County is rich with historical landmarks. Each tells a story of the region's past to piece together an intricate tale of years gone by.

Cayuga County and much of central New York holds a trove of American history wrapped into the very boards and nails of these landmark buildings. Many area museums have created a collaborative effort to immerse the region in their history. The Southern Cayuga-Moravia Area Country History Tour will be conducted this weekend to tour the historical facades of History House in Moravia, Venice Center Railroad Station, the Jethro Wood Home in Poplar Ridge, Smith's General Store Museum in Genoa, the Rural Life Museum in King Ferry and the Howland Stone Store Museum in Sherwood, plus 11 drive-by sites and cultural attractions.

The Howland Stone Store was built in 1837 by Slocum Howland and is an important, graceful and virtually unaltered example of a simple Greek revival cobblestone building. Members of the Howland family have maintained the store for 100 years.

The Jethro Wood Home was the home to the inventor Jethro Wood, who created the cast-iron plow with replaceable parts. It was the first commercially successful iron plow and was patented in 1814 and 1819. Wood spent his earnings fighting patent infringements. The house was declared a national historic landmark in 1964.

Smith's General Store Museum houses various grocery and retail artifacts sold back when the store was in its prime. The owner, Peter Signor, has collected a plethora of items that were sold in the store throughout history. The store has been owned by Signor's family for 118 years.

The tour is meant to stimulate interest in historical places such as these and to raise awareness of local museums.

If you go

What: Southern Cayuga-Moravia Area Country History Tour

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8

Where: Various sites in Southern Cayuga County

Cost: Free; guide maps will be available at all locations

Info: Call 364-8202