Track 1. Welcome & Introduction to the Audio Tour
Your tour begins near the admissions desk, where you can get a view of the museum. We'll give you enough information to begin your visit on a good note!
Audio Tour
Welcome to the Slate Valley Museum's audio tour!
ABOUT THE AUDIO TOUR
The Slate Valley Museum experience will include a new audio tour, launching September 13, 2025!
The tour is a free part of your museum experience and can be accessed on this website during your visit via your personal cell phone or museum tablets. The tour is comprised of individual tracks and there is no set path for you, allowing you to explore in chronological order or to create your own self-directed experience.
Ways to Enjoy the Audio Tour:
- Using Your Personal Cell Phone
The audio tour is accessible via your own personal cellphone using the museum's free guest wi-fi network. Simply connect to the network (password is available on-site), then scan the QR code that is located on the Audio Tour labels throughout the museum. Each QR code brings you to this webpage, where you can select the tracts that you want to hear during your visit. There is only one unique QR code for the tour. You can proceed with the tour and/or explore different tracks on the same webpage by scrolling up and down and pressing the play button adjacent to each track.
If you plan to bring your cell phone, please also bring a dedicated set of earphones or ear buds. This will allow you to complete the tour at your own pace without potentially interrupting the experience of other museum visitors.
**Please note: If you experience an error while trying to play an audio track, please reload the website (either using your browser by scanning the QR code again. This should alleviate the problem.**
- Using A Museum Tablet
A limited number of tablets are available to be borrowed from the museum front desk during your visit. They are available on a first come, first served basis. The museum supplies disposable, wired earbuds to use during the tour. Simply use the tablet's QR code reader on its home screen to scan the QR code that is located on the Audio Tour labels throughout the museum. Each QR code brings you to this webpage, where you can select the tracts that you want to hear during your visit. There is only one unique QR code for the tour. You can proceed with the tour and/or explore different tracks on the same webpage by scrolling up and down and pressing the play button adjacent to each track.
**Please note: If you experience an error while trying to play an audio track, please reload the website (either using your browser by scanning the QR code again. This should alleviate the problem.**
- Can't visit the museum? Listen to the tour from the comfort of home!
This webpage includes still images to help visitors identify each stop on the audio tour. They can also be used for reference for those who wish to listen to the audio tour outside of a museum visit.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO TOUR
Track 2: Geology
Learn about the geologic forces that shaped the Slate Valley Region and led to the creation of our rich slate deposits.
Tracks 3a - 3c: New York-Vermont Slate Valley Geographic History
Listen to the tracks below to learn more about three distinct periods of history in the Slate Valley.
Track 3: Geography of the Slate Valley
Track 3a: The Slate Valley's Early Years, 1845-1889
Track 3b: The Slate Valley's Middle Years, 1889-1912
Track 3c: The Slate Valley's Later Years, 1912 Through Today
Tracks 3d: Towns in the New York/Vermont Slate Valley
Learn more about some of the specific towns and communities that have made up the Slate Valley Region.
**Please note that additional tracts about more areas will be added over time.**
Track 3d: Granville
Tracks 4: Heavy Lifting Exhibition
Listen to the tracks below to explore more of the stories depicted in the Heavy Lifting exhibition.
Track 4: Heavy Lifting History
Track 4a: Dump Truck
Truck 4b: Forklift
Track 4c: Owens Carriage
Tracks 4e: Slate Industry Experience (Currently in the 8 tracks below)
Track 5: The Claire O'Brien Room
Learn more about the O'Brien Room itself, and the exhibition inside that explores the history of Martha Levy's WPA mural, Men Working in Slate Quarry.
Tracks 6a-6e: A Barn Find: From Storing Hay to Storing History
Featuring guest speaker and exhibition curator Matthew Lynch.
Listen to the tracks below to navigate the exhibition and to learn more about the New World Dutch Barn that you stand in right now.
- Track 6a: The History of New World Dutch Barns
- Track 6b: The History of the Slate Valley Museum Barn
- Track 6c: Design and Functions of New World Dutch Barns
- Track 6d: The History of the Slate Valley Museum Opening
- Track 6e: Slate Valley Museum Timeline
Track 6: Barn Introduction
Track 6a: The History of New World Dutch Barns
Track 6b: The History of the Slate Valley Museum
Track 6c: Design and Functions of New World Dutch Barns
Track 6d: Slate Valley Museum Opening
Track 6e: Slate Valley Museum Timeline
Track 7: The Blacksmith Shop
Before the days of tool manufacturing plants, the implements used in slating and other jobs were forged by hand by blacksmiths. Even today, some local slaters seek out craftsman to help fill the need for specialized tools. Learn more on this audio stop.
Track 8: The Doctor's Buggy
Why is there a buggy on top of the shanty? Great question. Find out the answer on this stop!
Track 9: The Quarry Shanty
Before the days of centralized mills and mechaniation, slate was processed in and around shanties like this one. Learn more on this audio tour stop!
Track 10: Slate Products
Roofing has always been the mainstay of the industry. But what else can you do with slate? Explore some of the many, many types of objects that slate is used for here.
Tracks 11-11e: The Dream & The Reality Exhibition, Exploring the History of Immigration in the Slate Valley
Track 11: The Dream & The Reality
Track 11a: Welsh Immigrants
Track 11b: Eastern European Immigrants, Featuring Guest Speaker Paul Labas, Lifelong Slater & Mayor of the Village of Granville (2025)
Track 11b - BONUS: Paul Labas Sharing Easter Prayer
Track 11c: Irish Immigrants
Track 11d: Italian Immigrants
Track 11e: Jewish Immigrants
Track 12: Neil Rappaport, Photography
Track 13: Conclusion, Thank You & Survey
Thank you for listening to our audio tour.
We'd love to hear feedback on your experience. Please complete our brief (1-2 minute) survey here to let us know what you thought of the tour!
Thank you for your time!
