UTICA — Like many museums, the Oneida County History Center, 1608 Genesee St., has more artifacts than can be displayed in its exhibit gallery.

The public is invited to take a journey behind the scenes and explore the best-kept secrets hidden in storage. These tours are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 18 and March 4, and offer a rare and intimate peek into seldom-seen museum collections. Tickets are $12, $7 for History Center members. Space is limited. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended.

Visit www.oneidacountyhistory.org/programs.html for tickets and details.

The History Center cares for a growing collection of over 250,000 documents and books, thousands of images including photographs, paintings, slides, drawings and thousands of artifacts. Many are rare collection items that are not frequently seen on exhibit.

A few of the treasures that might be seen on the tour include vintage hats, Utica-made Whites pottery, early American glass, historic maps, paintings, Civil War uniforms and even a cannonball found on the Oriskany Battlefield.  

This opportunity offers a chance to discover the extraordinary holdings of the History Center in an up-close and personal setting and can be customized for small groups. Due to the constraints of the tour, it is recommended for ages 12 and older.

For more information, call the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit the OCHC website at www.oneidacountyhistory.org.