Steuben County is a destination of innovation, of people leading the way. We’re known for many things, but especially for glass, wine, Keuka Lake, and exceptional outdoor fun.
Steuben is the birthplace of Finger Lakes Wine. The first grapes in the region were planted in Hammondsport in 1829, the first bonded winery in the U.S. and first American winery to win awards in Europe for sparkling wine was founded there in 1860, and the Vinifera Revolution kicked off there nearly a century later. Did you know the same small town was also the Hotspot for early aviation experimentation and advancement in the U.S. and has been called the “cradle of aviation” thanks to the contributions of local aviator and tinkerer Glenn Curtiss.
Keuka Lake, the only Finger Lakes lake not shaped like a finger, stands out for its stunning beauty as well as its role in the wine history of the region. Just down the road you’ll find “America’s Crystal City.” Known today for innovations in glass science and technology that have become an indelible part of everyday life (from Pyrex to fiber optics), the town of Corning and the glass company that bears its name add sparkle to the region with fun annual events and the world’s largest museum dedicated to glass.
Steuben
By The Numbers
1819
The year the first Steuben County Fair was held in Bath, NY—the first and longest-running county fair in the state
196
The height of “Little Joe” tower, in feet; used to produce thermometer tubing using the “vertical draw” glass pulling process
200
The length in inches of the piece of cast glass that Corning produced in 1934 for Mount Palomar's Hale Telescope
1
The “U.S. Bonded Winery #” assigned to the Great Western Winery at Pleasant Valley Wine Company, the first winery in the US to receive this government designation
19.6
The length of Keuka lake in miles
What & Who We're Known For:
- We have the most unusual of all the Finger Lakes (Keuka), which is one of the few Y-shaped lakes in the world.
- We’re home to America’s Crystal City and the world’s largest museum of glass (perhaps you’ve seen it on Netflix’s Blown Away).
- We’re home to upstate New York’s only Smithsonian Affiliate in The Rockwell Museum.
- We’re home to Glenn Curtiss (and the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum).
- We’re home to some of the best wineries and craft beverage producers in New York State.
