ROOTED HERE
The history of Rochester
The Genesee River runs through a city of neighborhood kitchens, independent bookshops and museums devoted to art, photography and play.
People who shaped Rochester
Follow the sourced timeline and use museum and library collections to explore Rochester in more depth. Read the historical source.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
History of Rochester, NY
A local history film shared by Local NY History.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Rochester
See all 48 famous people
- 1817
A village government
Rochesterville established its village government, whose original proceedings are preserved by the city.
Local history source ↗ - 1820s
Canal commerce
The Erie Canal brought transport connections that accelerated Rochester’s growth.
Local history source ↗ - 1834
A city charter
Rochester received its city charter on April 28, 1834.
Local history source ↗ - Today
Read the original records
The public library and Municipal Archives preserve records documenting streets, civic decisions and the city’s development.
Local history source ↗
See the history for yourself.
Choose a museum or cultural stop and check its current visiting schedule before traveling. City history source.
For deeper research, the Rochester library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.