Our members are stewards of the remarkable museum collections of American folk art, genre painting, and American Indian art; as well as our library's 90,000 volumes and special collections of significant 19th century social history manuscripts.  Through NYSHA's relationship to The Farmers' Museum, members take pleasure in one of the country's leading living history museums.  Visitors experience life in the 1840s as they visit the village's blacksmith shop; purchase tin penny whistles; pet and milk the farm animals; ride the carousel; and enjoy historic homes, period gardens, and exhibitions.

NYSHA Membership Levels

Holiday Membership Offer prices appear below.   If you purchase a membership online, we will contact you to find your preference of either the $10 shop credit or the one-year subscription to American Heritage magazine.  (Good on memberships of $40 or more. Offer expires 12/31/09)

Family/Household $80 year

All basic benefits for two named adults and all children of cardholders under 18. Two membership cards. Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.

Sustaining $115/year

All basic benefits for any two named adults, their children under the age of 18, and their grandchildren under 18. Two membership cards. Additional benefits include a 50% discount on general museum admission for two accompanied guests, and two free passes to each museum as well as the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) program offering discounts and/or admission to over 300 museums. Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.

Contributing $250/year
All benefits listed previously, plus free exhibition catalog, free subscription to New York History and listing in NYSHA's annual report. Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.

Benefactor $500/year
All benefits listed previously, plus a private tour of the Fenimore Art Museum or Research Library led by a Senior Staff member for Benefactors and four guests (by appointment), one free request for extended library services, and a special social event. Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.

About the North American Reciprocal Museum Program

Members at the Sustaining level and above are automatically enrolled in the North American Reciprocal Museum program (NARM) receiving free admission and discounts at over 300 museums throughout North America.   Members must present a current membership card validated with a gold NARM sticker to receive the reciprocal benefits.  Some museums restrict benefits.  Please see the footnotes listed at the end of the participant list.  Restrictions may apply for special ticketed exhibitions.  Click here for full list of participating museums North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) program

Other Member Levels

Student / Educator $25/year
Free admission to both museums and the Research Library for one specified student or educator. Click here to renew your membership or become a new member.

Culture Club $80 Individual  or Culture Club Dual $100/year
NYSHA's young philanthropist group designed for professionals between 21 and 41 includes general benefits at the Family / Household level, invitations to exclusive Culture Club events for young professionals, discounts on premier events and acknowledgement in the Annual Report.  Click here to join at the individual level.  Click here to join at the dual level

Far-Away Friends $50 / year  
For supporters living outside of the Cooperstown area who want to stay connected to museum exhibitions and acquisitions, as well as recent articles on New York history. 
Includes personalized membership card for two named adults, subscription to New York Historyquarterly journal, two passes to the Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers' Museum, 10% discount at the museums shops and cafes, annual Heritage magazine, and an invitation to the Annual Meeting.  Click here to become a Far-Away Friend.

Add-a-Guest $25/year
Add one specified adult to your membership. One additional card. Free admission to both museums. Click here to add-a-guest.

New York History Subscription
Free for NYSHA members at Contributing level or
above and $25 annually for members at Sustaining level or below. Go to Publications .