Literary Tourism: Rochester, New York

Back in August, Mr. Off the Beaten Shelf and I went on our annual road trip. This year we circled Lakes Erie and Ontario, which led us to pass through Rochester, New York––somewhere neither of us had been before.

We actually worried if we were going to make it because the battery and alternator in my car died 20 minutes from the US border while we were in Canada. We called the CAA, which is the Canadian equivalent of AAA, who was able to give us a jump. The guy said––with no less than 15 “eh”s––that we miiiiight be able to make it the 250 miles to Rochester if we didn’t turn the car off and minimized use of the car’s electronics. That meant no air conditioning, no radio, and no phone charging.

We made it, just barely, so the first thing we did in Rochester is stop at the nearest Goodyear to get the car fixed. Thankfully, there was more than enough to do in Rochester to keep us busy while the car was out of commission. We checked into the AirBnB, got some much needed caffeine, and were ready to paint the town.

[image description: Me, Mandy, a white lady, in green pants and a white t-shirt taking a selfie in front of a full length mirror. I’ve got my phone in one hand and a latte in the other.]

While walking around downtown Rochester we found a church that looked like it could’ve been Hogwarts! Seriously, check out that massive steeple. I bet that’s where the owlery is.

[image description: a photo of the church from a distance. The steeple is super tall in comparison to the rest of the church and the other buildings around it.]

[image description: A closer look at the steeple, which has tiny windows build into it. It’s probably a bell tower, but I bet there are owls and bats in there too.]

Susan B. Anthony, the noted abolitionist and women’s suffrage advocate, is from Rochester, so we stopped by her home museum.

Susan B. wrote a ton of tracts on civil rights and liberties and her home was, in a way, not just a house but also her office. So it was pretty cool to see the desk where such a brilliant mind worked.

[image description: One of Susan B. Anthony’s desks. It has books from the period scattered across the top, as well as some tracts and pamphlets she contributed to.]

Other abolitionists and women’s suffragists often came to Susan B.’s house to work, so there were quite a few work spaces. This one is in the attic.

[image description: A circular table with books and papers scattered across the top. This was one of the attic work stations for the movement.]

And that’s not all. The back part of the attic was a full office, complete with her typewriter.

[image description: A huge desk in the back of Susan B.’s attic. Clearly, she was a busy lady.]

I was thrilled to see they had her typewriter on display. Not only do I adore typewriters aesthetically, I collect them and have one just like this! Now every time I see my old Underwood typewriter, I think of Susan B.

[image description: A closer look at Susan’s typewriter, an Underwood model.]

Next, we went to the George Eastman home and museum. If you haven’t heard of him, you’ve definitely heard of his invention: Kodak. Eastman was the camera magnate behind the company that, at one point, tens of thousands of people in Rochester––and made him a wealthy dude, as evidenced by his mansion.

The guy had books on books on BOOKS. There were books in nearly every room. My kind of guy.

Like, this panorama is of just one of his reading rooms/studies/offices. With staggeringly tall ceilings with bookcases reaching to the top, he has more books on one shelf than I have in my entire house. And I’ve got a lot of books in my house.

[image description: A look at George Eastman’s reading room. It’s dimly lit and has multiple reading chairs, a fireplace, a desk, a globe, and floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with the knowledge of his time.]

Clearly, Eastman was doing some serious studying (or at least wanted to appear as if he did). Notice how many of the volumes are part of a set?

[image description: A closer look at one corner of the massive reading room.]

The bookshelves are so tall there were stepladders and those dreamy sliding bookshelf ladders everywhere.

[image description: Another closer look at the reading room, this time showing a nice wooden stepladder.]

Should I ever become absurdly wealthy, rest assured I will get myself a house with some built-in bookshelves like this.

[image description: Yet another corner of the epic reading room. This one features more single volume books and a green reading chair by a lamp.]

There was ample seating in the reading room, although it was only George and his mother who lived in the house. I like to think he hosted some book clubs.

[image description: Still another corner of this huge reading room. This one featuring a large green and gold floral armchair.]

As if that huge reading room wasn’t enough, he also had an even bigger office. The office had more art and botanical decor and the bookshelves only went halfway up the wall. Still, a lot of books.

[image description: A corner of the office featuring built-in corner bookshelves and two painted portraits.]

George was a mama’s boy through and through, so the giant portrait behind his desk is of his mother.

And just imagine having a desk like that; so big you could spread out and have multiple books open at once. As I write this, I’m sitting at my dining room table which is crowded and all I have on it is my small laptop, my day planner, a cup of pens, and a stack of zines that need folding and stapling. There’s creative freedom in having ample space.

[image description: A long study table/desk where four people could sit comfortably. There’s a row of bookshelves behind the desk and a portrait of Madam Eastman overlooking the room.]

I don’t know how anyone could be in this study and not feel inspired.

[image description: View from the desk in the office. Statue lamps, bookshelves, painted portraits, plants, and a big window full of sun.]

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Literary Tourism post if we didn’t stop at a bookstore! We happened upon Small World Books, a cute and quirky indie bookstore with a variety of used books and records. There’s even an art gallery and a small concert venue on the upper floors of the shop.

[image description: A white sandwich board sign propped up against the side of the building that says “Small World Books OPEN.”

I knew I’d love Small World Books when I spotted a cat immediately as I came in the door. He’s a gorgeous solid black baby who let me pet him. I would soon learn this friendly fella is the mascot of the store.

[image description: The shop’s mascot, a solid black cat, eating some dry food out of a bowl by the front door.]

With a name like Small World Books, you’d think it’d be a small shop. Nope! It’s actually rather large. I mostly took pictures in the front room because it’s adorable and well-lit, but there’s a whole back section with twice as many books as the front.

[image description: A look at one of the inside walls of Small World Books. There’s an electric clock with the shop’s name on it, a funky lamp, tiny flag stands, and of course, a giant bookshelf.]

I was immediately taken in by the fun, eclectic vibe. In addition to an excellent selection of used books, the decor included vintage gems, like rugs and chairs, that I’d totally love to have in my own house. I tend to like places that appear to be furnished entirely by thrift store, so I felt right at home.

Did I mention the cozy chairs? Plop down and prop your feet up.

In addition to books, Small World also has vinyl records. And, judging by the piano, the music isn’t just relegated to the concert hall upstairs.

The proprietor is lovely to talk to and is super knowledgeable about books. There was no way Mr. Off the Beaten Shelf and I were getting out of there for less than $80. Which, when you consider the good prices that buying used implies, it means we got a ton of books.

[image description: A wide angle view of some of Small World’s shelves, all of which are packed out.]

There you have it, friends! Three places in Rochester that book nerds are sure to love.