What's In A Name: Ganondagan State Historic Site

Ganondagan State Historic Site, located in the Finger Lakes region, is an interesting place to visit, providing insight into Seneca history, culture, and modern life. The name of the historic site pays homage to the Seneca town that existed on the land 350 years prior. Ganondagan is the only State Historic Site in New York that focuses on the land’s Native American origin and is the only Seneca town in the U.S. to be interpreted.

It all begins in the 17th century with the Seneca town of Ganondagan. The State Historic Site attempts to portray the Seneca way of life during that era. For instance, the Bark Longhouse on the property replicates a typical Seneca dwelling from the late 1600s. The objects and trade goods, although reproductions, are meant to help visitors betterunderstand the historic Seneca way of life.

However, the name wasn’t always ‘Ganondagan.’ It was originally 'Gannagaro,' and believed to be Mohawk land. In 1985, a group of advisors gathered together to discuss the future of the historic site. One of their priorities was ensuring that the name was corrected to Seneca history. Ganondagan, according to historian and trained Seneca linguist Hazel Dean John, means “there is a town surrounded by the substance of white.”.It is likely that the “substance of white” were blossoms of a fruit or berry that Seneca ancestors used. The advisors presented this information to the Bureau of Historic Sites, suggesting the change of name to Ganondagan.

How can we know for sure that the correct name is Ganondagan? G. Peter Jemison, the Historic Site Manager, dedicated an impressive amount of time researching and certifying this. A Seneca chief, Chief Corbett Sundown, was always present at planning meetings, accompanied by two elderlNative women. One of them was a Seneca descendent and was the first to suggest the name of the town was ‘Ganondagan’, or ‘town of white’ in her interpretation. Then Jemison went to Hazel Dean John, to further confirm that the name referred to the white flowers that grew on the land. Research also refuted the Mohawk name “Gannagaro.” which means “pole in the water.” There is no known history that relating to this name, making it less likely that this was the original name of the town.

Visitors can respect the land and history of Ganondagan by following certain rules. Notably, guests should not bring alcoholic beverages or drugs to the historic site as a show of respect for the human remains buried on the premises. Also, visitors should visit the reconstructed longhouse, where they will better be able to understand Seneca culture by hearing Seneca stories in an appropriate architectural space.

Thank you to Peter Jemison and the Friends of Ganondagan for sharing their stories and educating the public. We can all do our part to acknowledge and respect he tremendous work that goes into Ganondagan State Historic Site and other state historic sites by wear a mask and leaving no trace. To see updated guidelines for visiting Ganondagan, go to ganondagan.org/Visit/Visitor-Guidelines.