NYS Darren McGee, Fishing on Long Island

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday December 3, 2003

HISTORIC VILLAGES ON LONG ISLAND

Contact:  Kristen Matejka   
Director of Communications
LICVB&SC
631 951-3900

HISTORIC VILLAGES BRING LONG ISLAND’S COLORFUL PAST INTO THE PRESENT

Hauppauge, NY  (September 12, 2003)  Wampum deals with Indians, witch trials, a Revolutionary War spy ring. Since the earliest years of settlement in the New World, Long Island has been host to all manner of historic events. In the early 1600ï¾?s, Dutch and English settlers began flocking to its shores, attracted by unparalleled fishing and exceptional farmland.

Today, Long Island’s historic flavor is very much alive. Villages dating back centuries dot its shores, treating visitors to a peek at America’s past. In addition to exploring many fine historic houses and museums, they can enjoy the countless shops and restaurants nestled amidst picturesque Main Streets, combining the best of the present with all the charm of the past. Huntington The Town of Huntington, one of Long Island’s oldest towns, dates back to 1653, when three men purchased the land from the Matinecock Indians. The earliest residents were English settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut who named their new community after Huntingdon, England, the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell.

Today, Huntington boasts a vibrant downtown area with shops, restaurants, clubs, and bakeries. In addition to its charming Main Street, it offers four significant historic sites that are maintained by the Huntington Historical Society. The David Conklin Farmhouse, constructed circa 1750 and occupied by the Conklin family for over 150 years, has the original rooms on display, recreating life in Huntington of the period and boasting a table and chair used by George Washington during his 1790 tour of Long Island. The Dr. Daniel Kissam House was built for a local physician in 1795 and is one of the area’s most outstanding three-quarter plan houses, noted for its fine architectural details. The Huntington Sewing & Trade School was designed by Cady, Berg and See, the architects of the original Metropolitan Opera House and the American Museum of Natural History. This unusually shaped building from 1905 housed one of America's first vocational schools. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was completed in 1892 as a memorial to the Huntingtonians who died in the Civil War and as the home for the Huntington library and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the nation’s greatest and best-loved poets, Walt Whitman, was also part of Huntingtons past. The house that he called home in the early 1800s on has been preserved as the Walt Whitman Birthplace & Interpretive Center. The house contains 19th century furnishings, while the Interpretive Center features 130 portraits of Whitman, as well as original letters, manuscripts, and artifacts.

Centerport The next town west of Huntington also claims a famous resident. The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium is housed in the mansion that was once the magnificent estate of William K. Vanderbilt II, the great-grandson of railroad tycoon Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. Visitors can tour his 24-room Spanish Revival Mansion, plus view a marine museum, natural history habitats, gardens, and fountains. The Planetarium is Long Islands largest, with a 60-foot domed Sky Theater that recreates celestial events in the night sky.

Cold Spring Harbor Immediately to the west, Cold Spring Harbor is a charming old village filled with antique shops and boutiques. It is also the home of the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, which preserves Long Islands prominence as a whaling center during the 19th century. The Museum offers over 6,000 artifacts that include a fully-equipped 19th century whale boat and scrimshaw.

Port Jefferson During the mid-1800ï¾?s, the village of Port Jefferson was a major ship producer, turning out 327 wooden vessels between the late 1700ï¾?s and 1884. During the 1850ï¾?s, as many as 12 shipyards dotted its shores. In 1872, ferry service to Bridgeport, Connecticut began and continues to the present, making Port Jefferson an important transportation hub and one of Long Islands largest commercial centers. Visitors flock to the scenic harbor village to enjoy strolling around its bustling shops, dine in its many fine restaurants, take advantage of its harbor, and enjoy the nightly street life. A popular attraction is Mather House Museum, the 19th century home of ship-builder John Mather, which features artifacts from that era. A tool shed and barn on the property house contains replicas of a butcher shop, barber shop and country store.

Northport Another seaside village built on the fishing industry thats ideal for strolling, dining on seafood and other favorite cuisines, and browsing in shops is Northport. The village is so charming that it was used in the filming of the comedy In and Out, starring Kevin Kline. The Northport Historical Society and Museum is housed in a historic building that Andrew Carnegie built to be the Village Library in 1914.

Southampton Southampton was established in 1640, earning the distinction of being New York States most upscale settlement. Known as the summer playground of the rich and famous, it is also a terrific spot for poking around in boutiques and antique shops, plus dining in a range of restaurants from hamburger joints to some of the finest restaurants in the entire New York area.

In addition, the village’s colonial past is still very much alive at sites like the Old Halsey Homestead, the state’s oldest frame house and a station for a British general during the Revolution today serving as the Southampton Historical Museum. Meanwhile, Rowdy Hall got its name from the boisterousness of its early visitors, the Tile Club: a group of artists and architects that included Stanford White and who first popularized the Hamptons. Rowdy Hall was also the birthplace of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. The Home Sweet Home Museum, built in 1680, was the childhood home of John Howard Payne, Americas first actor and the author of the famous poem and song Home Sweet Home. Art lovers wont want to miss the Parrish Art Museum, founded in 1898 and currently devoted to American art of the 19th and 20th century. East Hampton East Hampton is another summer community that attracts celebrities during the summer months. Busy main streets packed with fascinating shops and restaurants make it an ideal destination for browsing. As for sightseeing, East Hampton has its share of historic buildings, including five museums maintained by the East Hampton Historical Society: Mulford Farm; Clinton Academy, the first school in New York State, the Town House, Osborn-Jackson House, and the Marine Museum. East Hamptons artsy culture is reflected in an annual event that really brings out the stars: The Hamptons International Film Festival, held in the fall.

Oyster Bay Further west, the waterside town of Oyster Bay was settled in 1653 by a group of English from Massachusetts who discovered its abundance of oysters. Today, its historic downtown area is replete with shops and restaurants, as well as some outstanding landmarks.

Earle-Wightman House, built in 1720 and the home of the Oyster Bay Historical Society, features an 18th century garden. Raynham House Museum is a 22-room house originally built in 1738 that re-creates life for two generations of a single family, the Townsends. During the Revolutionary War, the house was occupied by the Queens Rangers, a Loyalist regiment commanded by Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe. A Victorian-style wing was added in 1851.

And no trip to Long Island would be complete without a stop at one of its most outstanding sites, located on the outskirts of Oyster Bay: Sagamore Hill, Roosevelts home and the Summer White House during his term in office. In addition to touring the 23-room Victorian mansion, visitors can stroll through the landscaped gardens and the Old Orchard Museum, which houses exhibits relating to T.R.s political career, six children and family life. A 37-acre National Environmental Study Area has a Guided Nature Walk through its diverse ecological systems.
Places To Stay Long Island also offers a tremendous range of accommodations ï¾? more than 340 different lodging facilities. They include charming bed and breakfasts, elegant hotels, country inns, beachfront resorts, and campgrounds. Each one has its own personality and its own special touches. The Greenporter Hotel and Spa in Greenport, for example, features 50s style decor and a full-service spa with an emphasis on natural, plant-based products, while the Arbor View House in East Marion is known for its coziness, laid back elegance and leisurely four-course breakfast served by candlelight. Long Island’s most luxurious hotel is the Garden City Hotel, frequented by celebrities, famous musicians, politicians, international dignitaries and prominent sports figures.

For more information about where to stay and to learn about other summer events on Long Island, please contact the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission by calling 1-877-FUN-ON-LI, or, visit the website at www.funonli.com.

The Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission (LICVB&SC) is a marketing arm for the destination's nearly $5 billion travel and tourism industry established in 1979. Based on Long Island in Hauppauge, NY, the LICVB&SC contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting Long Island as a world-class destination for, and by, attracting individuals, tours, meetings and conventions, tradeshows and sporting events and related activities and businesses to Long Island.

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