Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday October 17, 2006
TAKE A MEMORABLE JOURNEY ON LONG ISLAND’S HERITAGE TRAIL
Contact: Kristen Matejka
Director of Marketing and Communications
LICVB&SC
631 951-3900 xt.317
TAKE A MEMORABLE JOURNEY ON LONG ISLAND’S HERITAGE TRAIL
HAUPPUAGE, NY –(October 17, 2006)- Embark on a journey along Long Island’s North Shore “Heritage Trail” and take a remarkable trip through the past where the scenic splendor is rivaled only by the historic significance of the area. The North Shore of Long Island, traversed primarily on Rte. 25A, offers visitors historic sites, quaint harbor front villages, scenic vistas overlooking the Long Island Sound, beachfront parks, castles and public gardens.
Explore the “summer Whitehouse” of former president Theodore Roosevelt; or visit Long Island’s Gold Coast, where neighbors at the upper echelon of high society strove to out-do each other in terms of lavish, castle-like mansions and gardens of European caliber during the Roaring 20s (many now open to the public).
Visit museums that explore Native American heritage, or catch a glimpse of the rich whaling history of Long Island. Stroll public arboretums and gardens where rare species are carefully tended, or visit the birthplace and interpretive center of poet Walt Whitman.
Following are some of the many attractions you’ll find on the North Shore Heritage Trail, as featured in the Heritage Long Island guide:
Sands Point Preserve
95 Middle Neck Road, Sand’s Point. Two 1900s castles, hiking trails, changing natural history exhibits and Wedgewood collection. Open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday. Also on site is Falaise, the former home of Harry Guggenheim, noted for its Medieval and Renaissance period architecture and furnishings. Tours from May-October, Wednesday-Sunday.
Nassau County Museum of Art
Museum Drive (off Northern Boulevard), Roslyn Harbor. Located in an historic mansion, the former Frick Estate, the museum offers original exhibitions featuring works by internationally renowned European and American artists. It is situated on a magnificent 145-acre preserve that includes Formal Gardens, the Arboretum and the largest publicly-accessible Sculpture Garden on the East Coast. Also on the museum’s grounds is the Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum. Open year-round 11-5p.m, Tuesday-Sunday.
Roslyn Clock Tower
North Main Street, Roslyn. Prominent stone tower built in 1895, and given to the community by the children of Ellen Ward as a memorial.
Cedarmere
Bryant Avenue, Roslyn. Former home of William Cullen Bryant, renowned poet and editor of the New York Evening Post for over 50 years. A gothic mill and beautiful garden are located on the grounds. Open May-October, Saturday-Sunday, and Holidays, 1-5p.m.
Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Road, Westbury. The Garden’s 150 acres include the Walled Perennial Garden, the Boxwood Gardens, the formal Rose Garden, Cottage Garden and demonstration Gardens, as well as sweeping lawns, over 100 species of trees, rolling fields and wildlife. The Westbury House mansion, virtually unchanged from the time of the Phipps family residence, still contains the family’s collection, furnishings and fine arts. Open April-October, Wednesday-Monday, 10a.m.-5p.m., and for special events in November and December. Guided tours are available.
Garvies Point Museum and Preserve
50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove. The museum exhibits deal mainly with prehistoric Indian culture, the science of archaeology and the area’s geologic past. The preserve is 62 acres of sediments, woodland thickets and meadows. Open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, 10a.m.-4p.m.
Planting Fields Arboretum State Park
Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. More than 400 acres of gardens, rolling lawns and woodlands. Visit Coe Hall (a Tudor-Revival mansion), the Hay Barn, Greenhouses, Gardens and Conifer Trail. Open daily, 9a.m.-5p.m. (516) 922-9201 Coe Hall tours, April-September, noon-3:30p.m.
Raynham Hall Museum c. 1738
20 West Main Street, Oyster Bay. Home of the Townsend family, members of Washington’s Culper Spy Ring. British headquarters during the Revolutionary War. Colonial and Victorian period rooms. Open July 1-Labor day, Tuesday-Sunday, noon-5p.m., and September-June 30, Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5p.m.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Cove Neck Road, Oyster Bay. This 23-room Victorian residence has been restored to the splendor that was Theodore Roosevelt’s “Summer White House” from 1901-1909. The 89-acre estate also holds the Old Orchard Museum, former home of General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Seasonal guided tours. Open year-round, Wednesday-Sunday 9:30a.m.-5p.m. Fee
Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
Main St, Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor. Features fully equipped 19th century whaleboat, family activity room, whaling implements, paintings, scrimshaw, and ship models. Open Labor Day-Memorial Day, Tuesday-Sunday 11a.m.-5p.m. and 11a.m-5p.m. Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25.
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium
Routes 25A, Cold Spring Harbor. Environmental education center and demonstration hatchery. Open daily year-round, 10a.m.-5p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Two buildings with tanks and aquariums, eight outdoor tanks. Largest collection of native freshwater fish, turtles and amphibians in the state.
Heckscher Museum of Art
Two Prime Avenue, Huntington. Sitting by a beautiful pond in the Village, this not-for-profit Museum’s priceless art collection contains more than 2,000 works in the permanent collection from Renaissance masters to contemporary Long Island artists. The Heckscher Museum mounts a changing schedule of exhibitions, lectures, tours, concerts, educational programs, and community events for adults and children throughout the year. Open Tuesday-Friday 10a.m. to 5 p.m. First Friday only 10a.m. to 8:30p.m, Saturday & Sunday 1-5p.m.
Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site and Interpretive Center
246 Old Walt Whitman Road, South Huntington. The home of Walt Whitman, America’s greatest poet, c.1819, has 19th-century furnishings and unusual architecture. Interpretive Center exhibits include the poet’s portraits, letters/manuscripts, artifacts, schoolmaster’s desk and his voice on tape. There are also guided tours, picnic facilities, museum shop/bookstore and auto-hiking tours of West Hills. Handicapped accessible. Summer hours: Monday-Friday, 11a.m.-4p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 12-5p.m.; closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Winter hours; Wednesday-Friday, 1-4p.m.; closed major holidays.
Joseph Lloyd Manor House c. 1766
Lloyd Lane in the Village of Lloyd Harbor. Lloyd Manor was the home of Jupiter Hammon, a slave who became the first published African-American poet. Accurate 18th century game arrangements and formal gardens. Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day Saturday & Sunday, 1-5pm.
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion and Planetarium
180 Little Neck Rd, Centerport. William K. Vanderbilt’s 24-room Moroccan-style mansion called “Eagles Nest,” located on 43 acres overlooking Northport Harbor. Collections that Vanderbilt assembled as he traveled through the world in the 1920s and 30s, are on display, as well as an assortment of marine and wildlife specimens. The adjacent Planetarium is one of the largest and best equipped in the nation, featuring a 60-foot sky theatre projected with 11,369 stars, as well as an observatory with a 16-inch, 860 power reflecting telescope. Sky shows are presented regularly. Open year-round. Closed Mondays.
Northport Village Park and Dock
Northport life centers around the Village park and its gazebo centerpiece, featuring cultural events and free concerts throughout the year, playgrounds and spectacular views. The docks accommodate transient boaters, fishing enthusiasts and marine activities.
Mills Pond House c. 1838
660 Route 25A, St. James. A Greek manor house featuring a professional art gallery, summer concerts, poetry readings and educational programs. Home to the Smithtown Township Arts Council. Open year-round, Monday-Friday 10a.m.-4p.m.; Saturday –Sunday, 12-5p.m.
Governor Alfred E. Smith Sunken Meadow State Park
Route 25A, Kings Park. This 1,266-acre park has golf, beachfront boardwalk and swimming beach on Long Island Sound.
Stony Brook Grist Mill c. 1751
Harbor Road, off Main Street, Stony Brook. Millers grind grain in Long Island’s most fully equipped grist mill. Open May-December, Saturday-Sunday, 12-4:30p.m.
The Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages
Main Street at Route 25A, Stony Brook. Three museums, located on a nine-acre, park-like setting, feature America’s finest carriage collection, changing exhibitions in Long Island history and American art, miniature rooms and antique decoys. Open year-round, Wednesday-Saturday, 10a.m.-5p.m. and Sunday, noon-5p.m.
Sherwood-Jayne House
Old Post Road, East Setauket. Filled with a collection of furniture and objects, a farm stand from 1730, hayfields, meadows, woodlot and orchard. By appointment only.
Mather House Museum
115 Prospect Street, Port Jefferson. 19th century home of shipbuilder John Mather features ship artifacts, maritime exhibits and period furnishings. Historic buildings include a tool shed and barn. Open Tuesday-Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 1-4p.m, May-September. Admission by donation
The Heritage Long Island guide is offered free by the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission. Call 1-877-FUN-ON-LI.
The Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission (LICVB&SC) was established in 1979 as the official tourism promotion agency for the destination’s travel and tourism industry. Based on Long Island in Hauppauge, NY, the LICVB&SC contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting the region as a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and related activities.
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