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Syracuse's nickname as “The Salt City” is just one of the stories you'll uncover when you visit the Salt Museum. The facility was built with timbers from an actual 19th century salt warehouse. The venue explains how in the mid-1800s, “boiling blocks” were used to boil salt water and evaporate the brine which left the salt behind. Syracuse went on to become the national leader in the production of salt, and the museum traces the many aspects of this unique area history. Visitors can see artifacts and attractions like wooden barrels, kettles, a saltworkers “neighborhood” and a full-scale reproduction boiling block.

The Community Folk Art Gallery is unique for many reasons. While it strives to present the work of African-American artists as well as other under represented ethnic groups in Central New York, it also features a striking common thread among the pieces that are on display. That theme is one of constant struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds that was no doubt the inspiration for many of the art works that are collected here. It's a museum filled with a curious balance of drama and triumph that will prove to be great conversation-starters when you make this museum the site of your romantic date.