As the “front door” to the Finger Lakes, Rochester, NY, is one of the best-kept secrets in New York State and across the country. Pristine lakes and landscapes, four beautiful seasons, strong industries, and the brain power and talent pipeline of 19 colleges and universities are just a few of the reasons to love the region. Situated on the Erie Canal and along the shore of Lake Ontario, Rochester has deep connections of manufacturing and commerce, performing arts, film, transportation, and tech innovation. It is a short drive to Letchworth State Park, the Finger Lakes vineyards, and the fruitful orchards and farmland of Western New York. Rochester has nearly a dozen home teams for baseball, hockey, lacrosse and soccer, and it is within easy reach of the major league teams in Buffalo, Toronto, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Rochester also has a long history of vibrant faith communities, civil rights activism and spiritual reformation movements. When B.T Roberts founded Chili Seminary in 1866, he was contemporaries with other social activists in Rochester, most notably women’s rights pioneer Susan B. Anthony and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.