The Richardson-Bates House Museum was built in 1867, with a substantial wing aded in 1890 for Maxwell Richardson.  Mr Richardson was a prominent attorney and civic leader in Oswego during the latter part of the 1800s.  Max lived in the house with his widowed mother Naomi, his divorced sister Harriet Bates, and her son Norman.  This painted brick Italian Villa-style home originally had 20 rooms, including five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

Designated a National Historic landmark in 1975, two floors of the Museum are open to the public, exhibiting six period rooms - filled with 95% of the original furnishings, including the lavishly appointed original Pottier & Stymus designed drawing room.  All of the period rooms are arranged according to photographs taken in the house by Norman Bates in 1889.  The musuem also contains three galleries for permanent and temporary exhibits about American culture.

A trained museum guide will explain how each room functioned, the objects in the room, and also about the people who used the room - or cleaned it.  The original photographs, objects and family diaries help make this a truly unique experience.