Explore the history of photography and film with extensive collections at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester.
The George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the oldest film archives globally. Founded in 1947, the museum preserves and displays an unparalleled collection of over 400,000 photographs, 28,000 motion picture films, and millions of cinematic objects, including scripts, celebrity portraits, and musical scores. The museum is housed within the stunning Colonial Revival estate of George Eastman, the founder of Kodak who helped to bring the use of film photography into the mainstream. The museum offers a glimpse into the ever-changing artistry of photography and cinema. It also serves as a leader in film preservation and photographic conservation.
The George Eastman Museum always has something in store that will educate, entertain, and inspire! The museum has a rotating lineup of at least three temporary exhibitions on photography and film housed within the Main Galleries, the Collection Gallery, Gallery Obscura and the Project Gallery for contemporary works. Currently on view until
November 9th, 2025 is Zig Jackson: The Journey of Rising Buffalo in the Project Gallery. Seeing & Being Seen: LGBTQ+ Visions of Rochester is currently on view in Gallery Obscura until October 26th, 2025.
The museum’s 500-seat Dryden Theatre screens over 300 films annually and is one of the only venues in the world that is capable of exhibiting rare nitrate film. Currently, the theater is hosting the 2025 Labor Film Series, presenting films from around the world that explore important issues affecting workers and the workplace. The theater is also hosting a Halloween series, featuring a frightening lineup of films including Cat People (1942), The Lost Boys (1987), The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and Sorry to Bother You (2018).
Be sure to take a stroll around the historic mansion and gardens, where you can catch a glimpse of how George Eastman, one of the greatest American innovators of the 20th century, lived and worked. Take part in daily docent-led tours of the mansion, gardens, and gallery exhibitions to dive deeper into the property’s rich history.
The museum’s Richard and Ronay Menschel Library houses an internationally renowned research collection of books, periodicals, and other materials on photography and moving images. Access to the library is available by appointment. Access to collection archives or study centers is also available by appointment.
Mansion Tours are held Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Sundays, there is only a 2 p.m. tour. Landscape tours are available May through October on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Self-guided Audio and Mobile Tours are also available.
Museum Admission:
Adults – $22
Seniors (65+) – $20
Students (with ID) – $9
Ages 5–17 – $9
Ages 4 & under – Free
Members – Free
Dryden Theatre Admission:
General – $12
Members – $9
Students (with ID) and Children – $5
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Experience the George Eastman Museum via Amtrak to Rochester Station in Rochester—Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s See New York and Save 15% discount!
From Rochester Station, get picked up and taken to your reserved NYTRAIN Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Click here to reserve your car or call the Rochester office today at: 585-423-2220.
