Living History

Read about the history of Ithaca College. 

• The History Center in Tompkins County

The city of Ithaca may have two colleges within its boundaries, but a new multimedia exhibit currently on display sets out to prove that Ithaca College is, indeed, Ithaca’s college.

From Downtown to South Hill: Ithaca College is Ithaca’s College celebrates the College’s first 115 years and “the rich and enduring partnership between the College and the community.” Students, alumni, and friends can view the display for free at the History Center in downtown Ithaca during regular History Center hours. The display includes items such as a permissions ledger from the1920s that explains the rules imposed on female students during that time period. It also provides a walkthrough of IC history, from the College’s founding as a music conservatory in 1892 to its brush with bankruptcy and the threat of closure in the 1930s to its presence today on South Hill. If you find yourself in Ithaca between now and the end of February, don’t miss it.