It's a community with a vast rich history, housed by one society: The Onondaga Historical Association.

"We called ourselves the Salt City, we were called the Typewriter City, we were called the Gear City," said Gregg Tripoli, Onondaga Historical Association executive director. "OHA is about 157 years old. When they started collecting [then], they were already collecting things that were 100 to 200 years old."

From clothes to pictures and architectural layouts, it's all boarded at one of OHA's five museums.

"The mission of OHA is to collect, preserve, and interpret, [as well as to] store and exhibit the history of Syracuse and Onondaga County. We of course spend a good portion of our time, most of our time, energy, and effort, outside our museum walls, reaching out into the community. We're bringing history to all different areas in the community," Tripoli said.

It dates back to the area's earliest roots.

"Everything from our Native American beginnings here, to being the center of the American salt industry in the 1800s when it was the most important commodity to a lot of the technological innovations. Things that were invented here and that happened here, that affected our American way of life in so many ways," Tripoli said.

For example, the Brannock Device to measure shoe size or Syracuse China were all made in this area.

"Syracuse China for 140 years was really the ambassador to the world of fine dining from Syracuse. You could go to almost any restaurant, any hotel, club, turn the plate over and you would see Syracuse China," Tripoli said.

OHA also focuses on the region's people who have shaped the world.

"The Schuberts brothers, with Syracuse money, began investing around a little square known as Lawmakers Square. Today, we know it as Times Square. Once I found out I was sitting in one of these spectacular elaborate theaters, realizing that with Syracuse people who built that theater, I got goosebumps. It gives you a whole different feeling and that's pride," Tripoli said.

OHA still draws on these historical connections.

"We also use our history here at OHA to spur economic development," Tripoli said. "Congress beer, which was the most popular beer in Central New York for decades. We got the trademark license to manufacture a brut product with the name Congress, and then looked for a local brewer. We do a whole line of typewriter jewelry made by our vintage typewriter keys."

They are connecting folks to history.

"These projects we have that we call economic development projects, are meant to help local companies and entreprenuers. They also help to tell the great story behind that product. If we have pride in who we are, if we know our history, so we have a better judgement in charting a brighter future, you can't help but have a more optimistic perspective of that future," Tripoli said.