The Chautauqua Institution ( shə-TAW-kwə) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education center and summer resort for adults and youth located on 2,070 acres (8.4 km2) in Chautauqua, New York, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Jamestown in the Western Southern Tier of New York State. Established in 1874, the institution was the home of and provided the impetus for the Chautauqua movement that became popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Chautauqua Institution Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was further designated a National Historic Landmark. Chautauqua was founded in 1874 by inventor Lewis Miller and Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent as a teaching camp for Sunday school teachers. The teachers would arrive by steamboat on Chautauqua Lake, disembark at Palestine Park, and begin a course of Bible study that used the Park to teach the geography of the Holy Land. The institution has operated each summer since then, gradually expanding its season length and program offerings in the arts, education, religion, and music. It offers educational activities to the public during the season, with public events including popular entertainment, theater, symphony, ballet, opera, and visual arts exhibitions. The institution also offers a variety of recreational activities, plus a community education program called Special Studies along with residential programs of intensive study provided for students aiming for professional careers who audition for admittance into Chautauqua's Schools of Performing and Visual Arts. The physical setting of the institution defined its development as an assembly. The grounds are on the west shoreline of upper Chautauqua Lake. The early tent-camp assembly gave way to cottages and rooming houses, and then hotels, inns, and eventually condominiums.

Chautauqua County is located in far western New York State, in the Appalachian Mountains. This small town of 4,500 residents has 72 miles of shoreline along Chautauqua Lake, with each point offering a unique view, fishing and boat rides, nature trails, and golf courses. You can also take advantage of walking tours or participate in world-class events at venues like the Chautauqua Opera House or the festival grounds, which host year-round festivities.

Whether you're a fan of the arts, looking to participate in a summer educational program, or just curious to find out what Chautauqua Institution has to offer, take the time to visit the Amphitheater and see why it's such an important part of this special community.