Sunday, July 5, 2015

With Open Arms: The Story of Armenians in Syracuse
Onondaga Historical Association

Price: Free
Onondaga Historical Association
321 Montgomery St., Syracuse

Syracuse's rich Armenian history is a little known story that can be discovered in this exhibit.

Syracuse has a long historical legacy with the people of Armenia. There is a vibrant community here today of Armenian-Americans, some recent arrivals and others whose ancestors came to Central New York in the late 19th century.

This year, 2015, holds special significance for that community because of the atrocities Armenian suffered in their homeland, inside the Ottoman Empire, 100 years ago during World War I. Those hardships led many Armenian families to relocate to Syracuse, where there already was a small but vigorous Armenian community. After World War I, Syracuse Armenians were also active participants with international efforts to establish an independent Armenian nation. That would not become reality, however, until 1992 with the breakup of the Soviet Union.

The exhibit will feature many images and artifacts that explore the saga of the local Armenian community from the 1890s to the present:
* The assistance that local Syracusans, such as SU Chancellor James Day played in helping Armenian refugees
* Businesses and industries that Armenians created here
* The importance of their religious and social identity
* Involvement that Syracuse Armenians had with national leaders in trying to establish an independent Armenia in 1918-1920