Discover Waterloo

Explore Waterloo through specific landmarks: two houses connect the history of the 1848 women’s rights convention with its different stages of preparation. They are joined by an exhibition on Memorial Day history and the eastern endpoint of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail. Together, they offer a view that ranges from political organizing in a private home to a path along the canal. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Waterloo, you can decide whether historical sites or time outdoors will be the focus of your stay.

1848: From Gathering to Planning

The Declaration of Sentiments for the First Women’s Rights Convention was drafted at the M'Clintock House. On July 16, 1848, Mary Ann M'Clintock held a planning meeting there. Mary Ann M'Clintock, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and possibly others drafted the Declaration. The meeting links a specific place to the political preparations for the convention: it was where the event was planned and the text that would play a role at the convention was drafted. Mary Ann and Thomas M'Clintock lived in the house, organized the 1848 women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, and also worked with the Underground Railroad. The same home thus brings together political organizing and the M'Clintocks’ work in two different historical contexts.

At the M'Clintock House, distinguish between the house and the grounds: the house is open seasonally during ranger programs, while the grounds are accessible year-round. Check the current schedule before visiting the house.

An earlier step took place on July 9, 1848, at Jane Hunt’s home. She hosted Lucretia Mott there for a social gathering; those present decided to call the first women’s rights convention in the United States. The house stood on the eastern edge of the village of Waterloo. The two dates are a week apart and show different stages: at Hunt’s house, the decision to call the convention was made; at the M'Clintock House, the planning meeting followed, and the Declaration was drafted.

Exhibitions and Outdoor Sites

The Memorial Day History Room features an exhibition about the 1966 Centennial, which led to Waterloo’s recognition as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Another exhibition includes 19th-century pictures, poetry, and prose. Memorial Day history offers a different historical focus from the events of 1848: here, the emphasis is on remembering Waterloo’s role in Memorial Day.

For time outdoors, the eastern endpoint of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail near Lock #4 in Waterloo is accessible. Trail conditions can change, so it’s worth checking them before your outing. Along Route 5 & 20 at Seneca Lake in Waterloo, the Sullivan’s March Monument commemorates the march of troops along the lakeshore. It adds the story of that march to the area’s historical themes.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

When choosing a vacation rental in Waterloo, consider which thread you want to shape your stay. The houses of Jane Hunt and Mary Ann M'Clintock make the steps from gathering to planning easy to follow through two dates. The Memorial Day History Room focuses on another tradition of remembrance; the Canal Trail offers a starting point for spending time outdoors. You can choose where to stay based on the mix of history and activities you’re looking for. If you plan to visit the M'Clintock House, include its seasonal opening during ranger programs in your plans.

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