We are a small and fairly new museum (501 c 3 ) in Bemus Point, NY. Our mission is to preserve and present information and artifacts related to the rich heritage of boating and related recreation on Lake Chautauqua. Our exhibits include antique boats, extensive photos of steamboats, boat races, fishing, and general recreation from the late 1800's through the 1950's. We have a growing children's section where young people can have hands-on experience with the boats and learn age-relevant crafts related to boating.

The Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake is an IRS Section (501)(c)(3), not-for-profit, organization formed of Officers and Trustees whose passion is preserving, displaying, and presenting as much of Chautauqua boating history as possible: both its artifacts and its singular milieu.

So, why is the venerable L.S. Aero Marine building important to Chautauqua's boating history? Why would anybody turn this old business into a MUSEUM?

Before the 1920s, motorboats on Chautauqua Lake were nearly all large, expensive yachts, bought and maintained by the very wealthy. The Lawson Boat and Engine Company, Inc., precursor of L.S. Aero Marine, virtually introduced the first family-priced and family-sized motorboats to the lake.

Since its founding in 1918 the Boat Chandlery at 73 Lakeside Ave. in Bemus Point has been constantly in the forefront of family boating on Chautauqua, as the source of nearly one-thousand boats sold, as a treasure-trove of parts, as well as a font of first-hand knowledge and advice. L. S. Aeromarine is the history of family boating on Chautauqua Lake.

When we have completed the first phases of our work restoring the Lawson Chandlery this Summer, we will have taken important steps in preserving the memory of and many of the iconic relics from this history. It's our passion and your history.

This summer, 2013, we plan a season filled with adult and Kid education (including two NYS Boaters Safety Courses in May), special events, shop classes, and many new exhibit including antique and classic boats and steamboats. You're gonna' LOVE it! Oh, and don't miss our recently completed Boat Shop! That's worth a visit all by itself.

To preserve the boating history and physical presence of the Lawson family on Chautauqua lake; enrich and educate people's lives through this rich reflection of the past; and to reach out to children and adults by providing historical and educational boating exhibits and photographs, hands-on displays, and classes with workshops teaching the traditions and skills of the past with respect to wooden boat building.

The Board of Trustees of The Lawson Center was originally formed as The Friends of the Lawson Center when the 19th century house and 1918 ships's chandlery was deeded to them in 2010.

When the board applied for incorporation in June, 2010,the State of New York and the IRS awarded them a "Type-A," not for profit corporation as The Friends of the Lawson Center, Inc. [EIN 27-3671294] Having cleared all the hurdles necessary to gain this special, Type-A incorporation, the friends immediately incorporated a second time and on Sept. 14, 2010 was awarded a provisional charter by the New York Department of Education as, The Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake, an Educational Corporation, i.e., a Museum. [EIN 27-3671294]

In our second year of full operation, we display static and interactive exhibits on 3 levels and have hosted seminars on boats, boating history, woodworking and related topics for adults. This year, we have added program for school children, including a special program that fulfills the 4th grade local history requirements.