Whose Myth Is It Anyway?
Season 7, Episode 1
The narrative of Seneca Lake’s folklore has vastly shifted over time. Today, via a quick Google Search, curious researchers may find information surrounding the Lake Guns, the rumored Seneca Lake Sea Monster, and the tale of Agayentah. Many of these stories claim inspiration from the native Seneca people. However, much of this is a fabrication, erasing the real history of the region. This episode covers the evolution of Seneca Lake’s folklore and the history of the Seneca people and the ethnic cleansing carried out by American settlers. Additionally, we discuss modern links between mythos and science and contemporary initiatives to restore and preserve Seneca history.
Works Cited:
Andreatta, D. (2025, October 8). Why is this lake ‘burping’?. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/nyregion/seneca-lake-guns-drums.html
Bracker, Ed. (1947) “The Legend of the Paddle”. The Herald.
Cohn, Art (2019). ‘Seneca Lake Archaeological & Bathymetric Survey”. Institute of Nautical Archeology.
Fairchild H. L. (1934). SILENCING THE "GUNS" OF SENECA LAKE. Science (New York, N.Y.), 79(2050), 340–341. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.79.2050.340
Hartigan, H. (2025, December 15). The mystery of the seneca drums persists. Cornell Chronicle. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/12/mystery-seneca-drums-persists
“Hunting or trapping of Seneca Lake Monster prohibited”, City of Geneva § 206-2 (2015)
Lord, George V. C. (1929) “The Sullivan-Clinton Campaign. A Historical Pageant of Decision.” J.B. Lyon Company, Printers, Albany, N.Y.
(1900, July 15) “Monster Sea Serpent Killed in Seneca Lake”. Rochester Herald. https://townoftorrey.org/pdf/document_library/seneca-lake-sea-serpent.pdf
youngm2015. (2021, November 4). Timeline of the Seneca Lake Monster. Genealogy and Local History at the Steele Memorial Library in Elmira NY. https://genealogylibraryelmira.wordpress.com/2021/11/04/timeline-of-the-seneca-lake-monster/