Lima has been known as a vibrant and successful agricultural, commercial, and academic center—the Crossroads of Western New York.
According to the Lima Historical Society, “Lima’s first non-native settlers came in 1788—Revolutionary War veterans who were attracted by the excellence of the town’s soils and agricultural potential. The town grew rapidly throughout the first half of the 19th century, with the downtown village core becoming a thriving commercial center that supplied a diverse array of goods and services to an expanding population settling the surrounding countryside.”
Shops & Restaurants
Shops
Restaurants
Lima Family Restaurant
History & Architecture
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the four-corners crossroads of Routes 5 & 20, and NY-15A. Head up Rochester Street and around College, Genesee, and Livingston Streets to check out some of LIma’s historic buildings, like Elim Bible Institute and College.
Lima Historical Society opens the Tennie Burton Museum each year on Memorial Day, and invites the public to visit that day to view the parade from the front lawn and sidewalk. The museum is open that day from 9:30am – noon. Otherwise, the museum will be open every Sunday from 2-4pm from June through September.
Signature Events
Lima Crossroads Blues Festival
Lima Crossroads Blues Festival takes place in early-August along Routes 5 & 20 and NY-15 and is centered around music and family-friendly food & festivities.
Blossom Festival
Rochester Touristen Verein’s Blossom Fest—Baumblütenfest—takes place during the second weekend in June. The club began as a Nature Club where members could escape the city to enjoy hikes and camping and swimming. Today, RTV invites the public to participate at this annual German Blossom Festival to enjoy the food, music, dancing, and many other activities that are celebrated in German tradition.
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Routes 5 & 20, a 67-mile stretch where NY-5 and US-20 converge, is a gently rolling scenic highway passing through small cities and quaint villages.
Letchworth has something for everyone, from hiking one of the park’s 29 trails and picnicking beside a waterfall to taking a scenic drive.
The Greater Rochester Nine-County Area
The Greater Rochester Area comprises nine counties that fall under the jurisdiction of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
Where is your favorite place to visit in Lima?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
I love local history is there any way to get more information like this on other towns.
Hello Paula! It is my hope to do a guide for all of our cities, towns, and villages in the Greater Rochester Region over the next few years. I would like to capture the history through a day-trip lens, highlighting places you can visit today and how they came to be there. In the meantime, I would encourage you to follow some of the places you are interested in on Facebook. I have found that pages like “You Know You’re from Pittsford, NY when” have engaging historians that contribute to the community conversation and I’ve learned so much through them.