Alice Austen House facts for kids
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Elizabeth Alice Austen House –
Clear Comfort |
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 Hylan Boulevard Staten Island New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1690 |
| Architectural style | Dutch Colonial, later Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000925 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1993 |
The Alice Austen House, also known as Clear Comfort, is a historic home in Staten Island, New York City. It is located at 2 Hylan Boulevard in the Rosebank area. This house was the home of Alice Austen, a famous photographer, for most of her life. Today, it is a museum and part of the Historic House Trust. A group of volunteers called "Friends of Alice Austen" helps manage the museum.
In 2021, Clear Comfort was recognized by the LGBT Historic Sites project. This was the first site in New York City dedicated to a woman to receive this special recognition.
History of Clear Comfort
The house was first built around the late 1600s or early 1700s. It started as a small, one-room Dutch Colonial house right on the shore of New York harbor. Brothers Jacob and Lambert Johnson likely lived there first. They bought the land in 1698.
The house was changed and made bigger many times in the 1800s. A big change happened in 1844 when John Haggerty Austen, Alice's grandfather, bought it. He renamed it "Clear Comfort" and remodeled it.
In the 1950s and 1960s, two photographers, Berenice Abbott and Philip Johnson, helped save the house. They led a group of people who wanted to protect old buildings. They stopped the house from being torn down. Because of their efforts, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It also became a New York City Landmark in 1971.
The City of New York bought the house in 1975. It opened to the public as a museum in 1985. In 1993, it became a National Historic Landmark. Then, in 2002, it was named a Historic Artist Home and Studio.
Museum Exhibitions and Activities
The Alice Austen House is a museum that offers many interesting activities. It takes part in the Smithsonian Museum Day events. This means you can sometimes visit for free!
In 2016, the museum held its first big art show called Staten Island Unlimited. It showed photos from 35 photographers from different parts of New York. During this event, people celebrated Alice Austen's 150th birthday. There were also talks where artists discussed their work. They talked about "Staten Island as Place" and "Staten Island as Community."
In March 2016, the Whitney Museum hosted a discussion called New Eyes on Alice Austen. This event honored Women's History Month and Alice Austen's 150th birthday. Experts talked about her amazing photography and her unique way of life. The museum has also started to share more about Gertrude Tate, who was Alice Austen's long-time partner. They even have a new podcast called My Dear Alice.
This focus on Alice Austen's full life helped the museum get special recognition. It was named a historic site by the National Register of Historic Places for being inclusive of different ways of living.
See also
In Spanish: Alice Austen House para niños
- List of museums devoted to one photographer
- List of the oldest buildings in New York
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Staten Island
