The small village of Cooperstown is situated in the Central Leatherstocking Region in the beautiful hills of upstate New York. Most of the village is within the town of Otsego, but part is in the town of Middlefield. It is the county seat of Otsego County and is best known for being the seat of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Legend has it that baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday on a field in the village in 1839. The village also served as the set for parts of the movie ‘A League of Their Own’. The village was founded by the Cooper family, and numerous beautiful residences linked to their past can be admired here.
Cooperstown has for many years enjoyed a reputation as a ‘village of museums’, including the Indian Museum, The Carriage and Harness Museum and The Woodland Museum. Much of the charm of the village is thanks to its policy of encouraging local businesses to remain faithful to the unique character of Cooperstown.
Highlights
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: is dedicated to the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, featuring baseball-related artifacts and displays and of course famous baseball stars.
Glimmerglass Opera: was founded in 1975 and hosts operas at the Alice Busch Opera Theater on the lake, eight miles north of Cooperstown.
Brewery Ommegang: brews Belgian-style ales and hosts a large beer-tasting event every summer.
Farmers’ Museum: on the banks of Otsego Lake recreates rural 19th-century with several genuine artisans’ buildings in its grounds.****