That Elmira’s City Hall was one of the first “fireproof” buildings ever built? Ironically, the top floor was completelygutted by fire just a few years later.That former major league baseball player and manager, Don Zimmer, was married at home plate at Dunn Field in1951? Professional baseball in Elmira dates back to 1888. Such baseball immortals as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and DizzyDean were known to play “barnstorming” games back in the 20’s through 40’s.
That Park Church was home to Elmira’s first public library, a dance hall and even a billiard hall? Mark Twainfrequented the latter during his visits to Elmira!That Trinity Episcopal Church’s spire is an architectural rarity? It is one of only a handful in the world constructedentirely of brick.That many of the lovely Victorian buildings located in the Near Westside historic neighborhood were the homesof early movie and vaudeville stars, as Elmira was once a vaudeville capital? Nearly every Broadway and vaudevilleshow had a trial run in one of Elmira’s twelve vaudeville stages before venturing off to the world’s stage.
In fact, the first yearof Our Gang, was filmed on the streets of Elmira and Ithaca.You can learn about these and many other fascinating pieces of trivia about Elmira as you take a one-hour Trolley into TwainCountry tour. The trolley is operated as a joint initiative between Chemung County, the Chemung Valley History Museum,TLC Limo, and the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce.
Guided tours depart on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays,from July 1 through August 30. All tours include a stop to go inside the Mark Twain Study at Elmira College, and the lasttour of each day offeres a different route and also includes a stop at the author’s gravesite. Riders may board from thelobby of the Chemung Valley History Museum, located at 415 East Water Street in Elmira.Adults are $4 and children 12 and younger are $2 when accompanied by a parent or guardian. For reservations, please
