Things to do / Travel Guide
Over the years Long Island has remained loyal to its rich history. As a result of this commitment to restoration and preservation, Long Island historical attractions coax you across the boundaries of time for a fleeting encounter with what once was.
William Floyd Estate on Long Island, New York
William Floyd, a colonel in the Revolutionary War and a representative at the First Continental Congress, was also a proud plantation patriarch, and for eight generations the Floyd family inhabited the William Floyd Estate, located in Mastic Beach. Today the restored home features original portraits, historic artifacts, and period furnishings. Also on the grounds is the Floyd family cemetery.
Stony Brook Village Center on Long Island, New York
From its quaint, charming village ambience you'll hardly guess that the area was one of the country's first planned business districts and you certainly wouldn't otherwise imagine that George Washington's spy ring was once headquartered in Stony Brook. Located on the North Shore, Stony Brook Village Center, on Main Street, features more than 35 Colonial Revival and Federal-style buildings and quaint stores reconstructed to give tourists a glimpse into our nation's early history. The nine-acre Museums at Stony Brook also on Main Street are not to be missed and while you are in Stony Brook you might want to check out the 1751 historic grist mill.
Old Bethpage Restoration Village on Long Island, New York
You'll feel a world away, or several lifetimes away from the world, when you visit Old Bethpage Restoration Village. Tucked into a 200-acre valley, you'll see more than 50 historic buildings, blacksmiths pounding, cobblers cutting, tailors stitching, and farmers tending to their fields at this re-constructed, pre-Civil War village.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Long Island, New York
Where else can you see the rhinoceros-foot inkstand, big-game hunting trophies, and the office and study of Theodore Roosevelt? Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, is the site of the beautifully preserved 23-room Queen Anne-style manor that belonged to Theodore Roosevelt and served as the Summer White House during his presidency from 1901-1909. A whopping 90% of the furnishings are original, and almost nothing has been modernized.
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site on Long Island, New York
Walt Whitman, one of the most prolific writers in the United States, once wrote, “A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.” At the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site and Interpretive Center in West Hills you will stand inside Whitman's house of birth, gaze out the same window that gave him inspiration, see his original manuscripts and writing desk, and enjoy exhibits on his life, and work.
Historic Gold Coast Mansions on Long Island, New York
For a foray into the treasure trove of time, tour the North Shore's Gold Coast. The below restored, lavish mansions that once belonged to finance barons and wealthy industrialists are open to the public. Each estate has its own, seasonal schedule.
- Eagles Nest, in Centerport, once belonged to the Vangerbilt family. Built between 1910 and 1936, the interior is decorated with European tapestries, family furnishings, and a marine biology collection that belonged to William K. Vanderbilt II.
- Coe Hall and the Planting Fields, in Oyster Bay, is considered to be one of the most well-maintained estates in Nassau County. Built in the 1920s, the home's lavish and eccentric interior is filled with original artwork and priceless antiques.
- Sands Point Preserve, near Port Washington, features two historic castles, Castlegould and Hempstead House, and Falaise, a grandiose Normandy-style Manor. While the interiors of Castlegould and Hempstead House have not been restored, the Renaissance art and beautiful period furniture are what make Falaise a favorite Long Island historic attraction.
Historical Sites in Long Island, the Hamptons, Montauk, Fire Island
Historical-Sites
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