A Charming Port City
The city of Oswego grew from its strategic location where Lake Ontario flows into the Oswego River. SUNY Oswego’s 700-acre campus is situated on the lakeshore, just west of the picturesque port city, about a two-mile walk from campus to the riverfront at the heart of the city.
Oswego’s dynamic history resonates in its name — from the Haudenosaunee phrase meaning “the pouring out place.” A rich 19th-century character, mirroring its time as an industrial port community, remains preserved in many residential homes and downtown storefronts. Visitors come to learn more about the Oswego area’s heritage in museums and landmarks, and to view historic Fort Ontario, Oswego Harbor, the West Pierhead Lighthouse and other iconic attractions.
