Historical > Historical Attractions
| Around Town Southampton Historical Walking Tour | | |
Southampton,
New York,
11968
631-241-5554 |
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On this walking tour, created by a lifelong resident and direct descendant of one of the Village's founding settlers, learn the history and lore of the oldest English settlement in New York State. No reservations necessary. Private tours can be arranged. For more information regarding tours, schedules and rates, please call or Email.
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| Conscience Point Historic Site and Nature Walk | | |
At the End of North Sea Road,
Southampton,
New York,
631-283-2494 |
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A property of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center
North Sea Road, Hamlet of North Sea, near the Marina. Open Year-round: sunrise to sunset
Free admission
In 1640 a boat landed very near here containing a group of English families fleeing religious intolerance in Massachusetts and seeking affordable land to raise families. The Shinnecock Tribe sold them land and taught the pioneers how to use native botanicals and wildlife to sustain themselves. A nature trail now leads through a native marine grassland composed of little bluestem grass, switch grass, poverty grass, hairgrass, and prickly pear cactus which support the native grasshopper,sparrows, eastern meadowlarks, savannah sparrows and bobolinks. An historic marker at the end of the trail commemorates the early settlers. The refuge also supports endangered and threatened species. Please help us maintain this valuable preserve by not going off the trail and by not leaving any refuse behind.
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| Pelletreau Silver Shop built in 1686 | | |
80 Main Street,
Southampton,
New York,
631-283-2494 |
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A property of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center Open Year-round: Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free admission
This is the only trade shop built in the 1600s in America that has been in continuous use and in its original location. Originally a dry goods store, it was purchased in 1717 by Francis Pelletreau who immigrated to Southampton from New York City in 1717 to develop his business producing oil and candles from whales that drifted to the Southampton beaches. His grandson Elias Pelletreau occupied the building between 1750 and 1810 making jewelry, shoe buckles, tankards, silverware, etc. He became well-known as a silversmith selling his wares to clients between Connecticut and New Jersey. He is considered a local hero for his role as Captain of the Suffolk County Militia and his financial backing of and participation in the American Revolution. His son, nephew and grandson continued the tradition of silversmithing into the 19th century. The shop is now occupied by Master Jeweler Eric Messin who gives tours of the building and conducts workshops in jewelry making. For more information on jewelry making workshops visit our website.
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| Rogers Mansion, built in 1843 | | |
17 Meeting House Lane,
Southampton,
NY,
11968
283-2494 |
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A property of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center
Open Year-round: Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
$4 adults, free for children 17 and under.
William Rogers purchased the property in 1648 and was owned by a Rogers descendent until 1880. The most prominent family member was whaling Captain Albert Rogers who in 1843 added a Greek-revival style addition onto an earlier farm house. The Captain had become newly rich, like many other Southampton business men, in the flourishing whaling industry which came to a sudden halt in 1847 due to the decimated whale population and over production of whale products. The classical style façade has Doric columns on the porch, an ornamental balastrude, and a belvedere (or widow's walk). This type of house can be seen throughout the Hamptons and were almost always built from fortunes made in whaling. After a brief tenure by the Nugent family, Samuel Parrish purchased the property in 1899 and quickly added additions to the structure in the Colonial Revival style. Mr. Parrish, a very successful New York City attorney, was one of the first of Southampton's summer colonists who began spending summers in Southampton in the 1880s to escape the heat of the City. The Mansion contains period rooms, an extensive toy collection, and temporary exhibits on local history and culture. The Research Center has books, manuscripts, maps and photographs on the history of Southampton. On the grounds are eleven historic structures including a one-room schoolhouse, a 19th century paint shore, a decoy carver's workshop and the Sayre Barn built in 1738. For information on programs, workshops and special events please visit our website.
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| SOME SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY | | |
631-283-2494 |
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Early historians tell us that Southampton was originally known as "Agawam", so named by its native inhabitants, the Shinnecocks, who can trace their ancestors back as far as 8,000 BC. It became known as Southampton soon after June 12,1640, when the first English immigrants bought land from the Shinnecocks. The "new" name was chosen to honor the port city in England the Pilgrims first sailed from. The rich hunting and fishing grounds, the fertile soil and the grassy grazing pastures were all the new colonists dreamed of. The Shinnecocks taught the new settlers about local foods, craft traditions and whaling. Afican Americans were among the earliest inhabitants of Southampton, first recorded in 1695.
By the mid 18th century th ethnic texture of the town was rich with Native Americans, African Americans, Caucasian settlers, sailors and other world travelers. In time, European-style prosperity came to the new settlement. Southampton's sea captains' barks were berthed at nearby Sag Harbor and a few large homes were built, but the town remained small.
In 1844, when the railroad connected Greenport with the growing metropolis of New York City, people from the big city began coming Southampton drawn by the fresh and healthy ocean air. Visitors took the train to Manorville and a horse-drawn stage to Southampton. The railroad rached Southampton's Main Street on February 26th 1870 and it wasn't until 1895 that the tracks extended to Montauk. The summer people loved the quaint and quiet charm of the area and its fabled sandy beaches. It was then that large "summer cottages" began to ring Agawam Lake while new raods were cut to accommodate the building boom.
With the summer residents came the Irish, who were soon followed by Polish, Italian and German settlers. This pattern of cultural diversification continues today, enriched by Hispanic and other global citizens.
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| Southampton Historical Museum | | |
17 Meeting House Lane,
P.O. Box 303,
Southampton,
NY,
11969-0303
631-283-2494 |
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ROGERS MANSION, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton Village, Open Year Round, TUES-SAT 11-4pm. Admission: Free for members and children under 17, $4 Adults. THE THOMAS HALSEY HOMESTEAD, 249 South Main Street, Southampton Village, open July thru mid-October: FRI, SAT & SUN 11-4. Admission: Free for members and children under 17, $4 Adults. PELLETREAU SILVER SHOP, 80 Main Street, Southampton Village, TUES-SAT 11-4. Admission free. Tours and jewelry making classes. CONSCIENCE POINT HISTORIC SITE & NATURE WALK, North Sea Road, North Sea, near Marina. Open Sunrise to Sunset, Admission: free.
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| The Thomas Halsey Homestead | | |
249 South Main Street,
Southampton,
NY,
11968
283-3527 |
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A property of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center
Open July to mid-October: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
$4 adults, free for children 17 and under.
Thomas Halsey was one of the original English settlers who came as a group to Southampton in 1640 to escape religious intolerance in Massachusetts. He purchased the land from the Shinnecock Tribe and built a home on this property which, at that time, was the center of the Village. His son Thomas Halsey, Jr. built the original two room section of the current house on his father's property. It was sold to subsequent owners and enlarged over the years by the Raynor, Pelletreau, White and other families. This "first period house" exhibits furnishings and tools that would have been used by a prosperous farming family during America's Colonial Period. In addition, an exhibit titled "We're Still Here: The Evolution of the Shinnecock Nation, Past and Present" has a hands-on display of a Shinnecock Village during the Woodland Period, about 1000 CE. Behind the house is a Colonial-style herb garden and an orchard. For information on programs, workshops and special events please visit our website
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| Water Mill Museum | | |
41 Old Mill Road,
P.O. Box 63,
Water Mill,
NY,
11976
631-726-4625 |
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The Water Mill Museum, established in 1969, is located in the original historic 18th century waterpowered Grist Mill that named the community. The museum features mill grinding demonstrations, historical exhibits, documenting pre-colonial times to the present, changing art exhibit. An annual quilt show and sale open 7 days a week in August/September with about 250 quilts. Open Memorial Day to the end of September. Hours 11-5, Sunday 1-5 Closed Tues. & Wed. Admission $3.00, Children Free
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