Because of its similarities to the city of Siracusa in Sicily, this city was named Syracuse in 1819, also acquiring the nickname of "The Salt City" thanks to a natural salt-water spring, which made it the nation's leading producer of salt by mid-1840. It is also the half-way point between on the Erie Canal, which added to the area's fame and prosperity. The Erie Canal Museum and the Salt Museum both stand as testaments to this era. Visitors might also enjoy visiting the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) with its many interactive exhibits, the Everson Museum of Art, and the nation's largest regional history museum, Onondaga Historical Society. Or stop by the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with the kids to visit the animals and birds featured there.
