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Places to Go in Elmira, New York

Elmira is a city in the state of New York, United States. It is the county seat of Chemung County and is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area. According to the 2010 census, the city had a population of 29,200. Since then, it has lost more than seven percent of its population.

Tanglewood Nature Center

The Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira is a great place to learn about the local environment. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday until 4 p.m. You can also find them on Facebook for more information. The museum is located near several popular attractions in the area, including Eldridge Park, Harris Hill Soaring Center, and The Christmas House.

The center has trails you can hike on for free. They are well-maintained and marked. There is no water, but the trails are well-shaded and free of bugs. There is also an outdoor amphitheater and interpretive center. You can enjoy the center’s exhibits and programs during your visit.

Mark Twain’s grave

The grave of Mark Twain in Elmira, New York is a poignant reminder of the author’s love for the town. The writer referred to Elmira as a “foretaste of Heaven” in his writings and laid his ashes in Woodlawn Cemetery. His gravestone is a two-fathom granite monument. Visitors often leave cigars at his grave site.

Elmira is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, about four hours from major cities. While Twain is best known for his novel The Innocents Abroad, he was only 18 years old when he first came to Elmira, New York, to court the daughter of a wealthy man.

The town is rich in history. In 1865, the town was home to over 12,000 Confederate troops. They were held there because the town did not have enough food. Today, the city is a tourist destination. You can enjoy the local culture and history while visiting Mark Twain’s grave.

A plaque is placed in front of his grave to mark the place where the author was buried. The plaque is two fathoms (12 feet) high, which is the distance at which Twain derived his pen name. The grave is also home to the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner, Ernie Davis.

The center for Mark Twain studies at Elmira College has a number of Twain-related activities. The center hosts lectures and special events related to the author. For example, the Center for Mark Twain Studies hosts the “The Trouble Begins at Eight” lecture series.

Elmira is home to Mark Twain, who spent twenty summers in Elmira. The town was the setting for his life, which was marked by tragedy. The author’s firstborn son died at the age of one and a half. He married Olivia Langdon in 1870, but was later rejected by her father. During his visits to Elmira, Twain continued to write.

The memorial services were attended by four thousand people. It was a large ceremony and the coffin was taken to Elmira by rail.

Woodlawn National Cemetery

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs administers the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira. The cemetery consists of 10.5 acres and contains over 11,000 interred remains. As of 2021, there are more than 11 thousand interred bodies at Woodlawn.

In 2004, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the cemetery’s cemetery monuments are maintained by a nonprofit organization, Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira, Inc. This organization is dedicated to the preservation of the cemetery’s natural beauty and historical integrity. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered with the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.

The cemetery is home to a ten-foot granite monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in honor of the dead from the Elmira prison camp. The monument features a bronze bas-relief figure of a Confederate soldier. The monument is located near the Confederate burial section. Another monument honoring the service of Chemung County veterans is located on the cemetery’s grounds.

Located in Elmira, New York, the Woodlawn National Cemetery is a 10.5-acre burial ground. It contains the graves of many Confederate soldiers. The cemetery has been in operation since the Civil War, though it closed new burials until 2005. The cemetery was originally a training camp for Union soldiers, but the federal government eventually used it as a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate soldiers. In all, over 3,000 men are interred at Woodlawn.

Up until 1949, the U.S. government contracted the town of Elmira to care for the cemetery. They built the superintendent’s lodge, which later served as the cemetery’s administration building. The cemetery is home to several monuments, including the Shohola Monument, which honors the lives of 47 Confederate prisoners and seventeen Union guards who perished in a train accident.

Woodlawn National Cemetery contains the graves of 2,973 Confederate soldiers. The cemetery is near the former Elmira Military Prison, which housed more than 12,000 Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. As a result of the terrible living conditions, one in four Confederate soldiers died in the prison. The cemetery was dug by John W. Jones, a former slave who was hired by the Confederate government.

Elmira Drive-In

Elmira, New York is home to some great local eateries. From fried chicken to homemade ice cream, there is plenty to see and do in Elmira. The town also has some history, including the home of Mark Twain. Elmira also has several parks and leisure centers, including Eldridge Park, which opened in 1926.

The Woodlawn Cemetery, established in 1864, is a well-kept cemetery that welcomes visitors. It is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Here, you can visit the gravesites of notable people, including Mark Twain and Olivia Langdon Clemens. If you’re into history, the Woodlawn Cemetery is also home to Woodlawn National Cemetery, which is a burial ground for Confederate prisoners of war who died in Elmira during the American Civil War.

Another place to see a movie is the Elmira Drive-In. This drive-in theater has two big screens and Dolby stereo surround sound. It also shows double features at dusk. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children between four and eleven. There is a concession stand where you can purchase popcorn and hot food.

There are many places to go in Elmira that are inexpensive, but still enjoyable. For families, Harris Hill Amusement Park offers an 18-hole mini-golf course, bumper cars, and arcades. There are also water rides, including the Tilt-A-Whirl, perfect for small children. If you’re looking for something different, you can also ride a boat.

If you’re driving from Elmira, New York to Rochester, make sure to check road conditions. It’s possible that you’ll have to drive in and out of some towns along the way. Be sure to check road conditions and weather before you go. Also, make sure to check out RV campgrounds if you’re traveling with pets.