I have fond memories of working on a project many ...

I have fond memories of working on a project many decades ago in Rochester that entailed organizing a photo shoot inside the George Eastman House when it was the original house, without the museum built on. It was a special thing to be able to take photos inside this amazing place of photographic history. I've visited several times over the years and it's been kind of sad to see the house turned into a museum that ruined the integrity of the original structure. That being said, the parts of the house that are in their original layout with original furnishings, are beautiful and worth seeing. (Seeing Mr. Eastman's bedroom turned in to a Dr. Suess play area was a little weird!)

We visited when masks were required due to COVID, even though our visit was after the mask mandate had been lifted and masks were no longer required for vaccinated people in most businesses. The guard at the entrance was aggressive and nearly yelled at two people in our group of seven who didn't have a mask. We figured they would offer a mask for those who were no longer carrying masks everywhere. The guard did dig up a mask from a cabinet at the reception desk, however reluctantly. That encounter and the unfriendly attitude of the receptionist is part of the reason I gave the GEM a 4-star (those two people deserve a "2"!).

Due to COVID, they weren't having docent-led tours, but the audio recording stations on your cell phone work great and is well-produced.

Get past the attitude at the front door and enjoy the house tour!