Last updated: 7/22/2011
Staten Island, New York
Address
441 Clarke AvenueStaten Island, NY 10306
phone: 718-351-1611x250
web: www.HistoricRichmondTown.org

Hours

The offices are open from Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. The village is open to the public from Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. with guided tours given at 2:30 pm Wednesday through Friday, and 2 and 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Admissions

Adults: $5
Seniors: $4
Students & children 5-17: $3.50
Children under 5 and SIHS members: FREE

Museum Type(s)

Staff

Ed Wiseman
phone:
Sue Quadrino
phone: 718-351-1611x240
Felicity Beil
phone: 718-351-1611x282
Maxine Friedman
phone: 718-351-1611x271
Sarah Clark
phone: 718-351-1611 x272
Tom Calandra
phone: 718-351-1611x350
Wimal Ariyawansa
phone: 718-351-1611 x243
Description

HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN is New York City's historic village and museum complex. Visitors can explore the diversity of the American experience from the colonial period to the present. The village area occupies 25 acres of a 100-acre site with about 15 restored buildings, including homes, commercial and civic buildings, as well as a museum. Visitors to Historic Richmond Town see historically furnished interiors and explore museum exhibits. Staff and volunteers provide guided tours and demonstrate the daily activities of early Staten Islanders on a seasonal, scheduled basis. The Staten Island Historical Society also operates Decker Farm (c. 1815)the last privately owned working farm in New York City, which has been continuously cultivated since 1810. The farm stand is open from April through October, on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. During the month of October, the fall pumpkin picking program is offered to school children from Monday to Friday, and is open to the public on weekends.

Mission

The mission of the Staten Island Historical Society is to create opportunities for the public to explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities from the colonial period to the present. To accomplish this the Society: 1. Operates and interprets Historic Richmond Town, the largest and most complete historic village in the City of New York 2. Collects and preserves the materials of everyday life including the artifacts, archives, and buildings that tell the story. 3. Conducts and promotes research based on the museum's collections 4. Shares the collection and knowledge with the public through creative and engaging interpretative activities.

History

The Staten Island Historical Society was originally chartered in July, 1956 to "collect and preserve whatever may relate to the history of Staten Island." The Society has been actively collecting artifacts, buildings, the library and documentary materials since 1922, when it merged with the Staten Island Antiquarian Society.

Today, the Historical Society's mission is to create opportunities for the public to explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities from the colonial period to the present.

Artifact Collections

The collection includes more than 70,000 artifacts(craftsmen's tools, agricultural implements, household furnishing items, costumes and textiles, horse-drawn vehicles, paintings, prints, folk sculpture, industrial products and tools, and historic archaeological specimens. A highlight of our collection are the Alice Austen photographs.

Research Collections

The Staten Island Historical Society's library is the main repository for historical records on Staten Island,its collections relate to all aspects of the Island's social and cultural history from the 18th century to the present.

Educational Programs

The SIHS serves the community as an educational enrichment provider for Grades K-12. The Historical Society's core audience for enrichment programs is Grades 3 through 8. All school programs meet the New York State Department of Education Learning Standards. Programs include Acting as Citizens, Rural Neighbors, African American focus tours, and several workshops, such as: Charlie Gets His Cloak, Lighting the Way, Fiber to Thread, Our Own Quilt, Cooking up the Past, Historical Detectives, and You be the Judge. Each program give students an in-depth and engaging educational experience.

Governance

Historic Richmond Town is a joint project of the independent Staten Island Historical Society and the City of New York through the Department of Cultural Affairs, and is a member of the Historic House Trust.

Library
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

The Historian, published since 1938. A complete index is available on the link section on our website.
Services
Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
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