ROOTED HERE

A city with its own story.
Explore the places behind the name.

The Genesee River runs through a city of neighborhood kitchens, independent bookshops and museums devoted to art, photography and play.

People made the city.

Follow the sourced timeline and use museum and library collections to explore Rochester in more depth. Read the historical source.

1. 1817

   A village government

   Rochesterville established its village government, whose original proceedings are preserved by the city.

   Local history source ↗
2. 1820s

   Canal commerce

   The Erie Canal brought transport connections that accelerated Rochester’s growth.

   Local history source ↗
3. 1834

   A city charter

   Rochester received its city charter on April 28, 1834.

   Local history source ↗
4. 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.