It is said that the Finger Lakes were made by the impression of the hand of the Great Spirit on Central New York State. However, there are six major Finger Lakes; west to east they are Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles.

As told in Iroquois legend, the Great God Manitou wanted to reward the Iroquois Confederacy for their courage in battle and their devotion to the Great Spirit. He decided to bring part of their happy hunting ground down from the heavens.

According to legend, there are six Finger Lakes because the hand of Manitou slipped when he was pushing the portion of Indian Paradise down from heaven, causing five additional indentations that later became lakes, too.
(Excerpt from "Legends and Stories of the Finger Lakes Region", by Emerson Klees) (Map courtesy of Life in the Finger lakes Magazine

For the geologists' version of the lakes' formation, click HERE

The Native Americans traveled the lakes in crafts of their own design, mostly canoes. As Europeans settled the area, they began to design and build watercraft to suit their own needs, which included fishing, transportation of goods and produce, and recreation. At the Museum, we are researching the designer/builders who operated in the Finger Lakes area.

For more information click on a specific lake on the map below.

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