
The area that would eventually become Rochester has gone through many changes. Great seas, mountain ranges, and vast continental glaciers have all been located here.
Man's first contact with the area came with the Indians, but they were displaced by the advancing tide of settlers from the east, drawn by the fertile land in the Genesee Valley. In the early 1820's the Erie Canal passed through the area, and the settlers now arrived in a flood tide, bringing civilization to the wilderness.
I've expanded all of this into a timeline, illustrated with photos,
maps and images that show Rochester's rich history as an ongoing story.
It was developed as the educational portion of a suite of three sites that
feature Rochester and New York State. Visit
the other sites for more images from the past.
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