The lake sturgeon is the oldest and largest native fish species in the Great Lakes for more than 10,000 years. Prior to European contact, indigenous tribes like the Haudenosaunee revered the lake sturgeon and hunted them responsibly. With the establishment of fisheries and the industrial revolution, European immigrants caught lake sturgeons in excess. In the late 1980s, New York State evaluated that lake sturgeons were regionally extinct in the Genesee River.

Ever taken a ride down the Genesee River? Hop aboard our Genesee River Cruise, and let’s go “Cruising the Genesee” to take a closer look at the physical history of the river, discovering ways in which it intersects with the human histories along its banks! Two experts help us understand the river’s physical formation, geologic erosion and so much more as we embark on this adventure through time!

Walk with us around Rochester and talk about what does the future of biking look like for the city. What are some issues when it comes to biking now and what can we do to combat these problems. What can we look forwards in the Rochester 2034 Plan?

Join us as we examine the complicated history and surprising overlap between the 1970s, the environmentalist movement, and biking culture in Rochester!

Two words to describe our episode: CAR BAD. Sure, it’s funny to say, but the way that cars have affected our society — how we live, where we live, and how we get around — is way more significant than you may think.

“A living city cannot stand still.” This is a direct quote from Rochester’s 1911 City Plan, a plan that provides a modern vision for the city’s urban future. The plan shows the potential for a city to integrate multiple modes of transportation in harmony with the beauty of nature. What happened, and how did we end up where we are today? Listen to our episode to learn more!

Bike paths. Why are they, where they are, and who decided to put them there? And why are there just so many in Rochester? Did you know they used to be called Sidepaths? What’s the difference, and why the name change? Join Logan as we blast into the past where we meet Mary Raymond daughter of Charles Raymond the father of the sidepath movement to discover the interesting history of the sidepath movement.

We are kicking off Season 5 with a conversation about women’s liberation and relationship with cycling. Many famous Rochester women such as Susan B. Anthony, Francis E. Willard and May Bragdon became earnest advocates for the bicycle. Not only did women gain newfound mobility, but they adapted their lifestyle around this new technology.

On a clear day in April, onlookers standing in Mt. Hope Cemetery were  met with an astounding sight: Canada. This was the Rochester Mirage of  1871. Normally 400 feet below the horizon, the shore on the other side  of Lake Ontario loomed closer than ever, with the lake itself seeming to  have engulfed the northernmost half of our city. Or so the story goes.  But what actually happened? And what can the Mirage tell us about the  Rochester of that time, and about history as a whole?

Underneath the busy streets of  Rochester sits the abandoned subway, a local hub for creativity and self  expression; a space where concrete walls come to life in visceral color  and motion. But where did it all begin? Join Hear UR in exploring the  rich history of Rochester’s street art.