The Seward House Museum in Auburn has been recognized for one of its exhibits by the Museum Association of New York.
The museum received the Board of Directors Special Achievement Award from the association as part of its 2025 Awards of Distinction, according to a news release from the association on Tuesday.
The award recognizes the museum for a 2023 exhibit that addresses the Miller/Seward family's role in Auburn Prison and lasting ties to its system of unfree labor, the association said.
"This was a bold choice for a mid-sized historic house museum in a prison community with deep economic and emotional connections to incarceration," the association said. "While initially met with skepticism, 'Rooted in Reform' has had a profound impact, reshaping SHM’s programs and interpretation to connect the Seward family’s history with the broader story of American incarceration."
An example of carceral storytelling, the exhibit "demonstrates the power of museums to confront uncomfortable histories, engage communities and drive meaningful dialogue about justice and equality," the association continued. Visitors can follow the history of the prison, now Auburn Correctional Facility, through the lens of the family and prison reform movements across generations.
The exhibit was also featured in the American Alliance of Museums' journal, Exhibition, in October.
The 33 South St. museum is closed for its annual winter break, and will reopen March 4. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, military and National Trust members, $10 for Cayuga County residents, $8 for students and free for members, Blue Star families (Memorial Day to Labor Day), SNAP recipients and children younger than 6.
For more information, visit or call (315) 252-1283.
