List of museums on Long Island facts for kids

This list helps you discover awesome museums on Long Island, New York! Long Island is a big island, and it has two main parts: Nassau County and Suffolk County. This list focuses on museums in those two areas. If you're looking for museums in Queens or Brooklyn, those are also on Long Island but are part of New York City. This list doesn't include museums that are only online. It also includes cool art centers and galleries where you can see amazing art.

Awesome Museums to Explore

History and Culture

• African American Museum of Nassau County (Hempstead): Learn about the history of African Americans on Long Island. Discover their important contributions to American society and culture.
• Amelia Cottage Museum (Amagansett): This museum is run by the Amagansett Historical Society. It shares stories about the local history of Amagansett.
• Babylon Library Museum (Babylon): Explore the history of Babylon village. It's managed by the Babylon Village Historical and Preservation Society.
• Baldwin Historical Museum (Baldwin): Dive into the local history of Baldwin. The Baldwin Historical Society runs this museum.
• Bayville Historical Museum (Bayville): Discover the history of Bayville. You can visit by making an appointment.
• Bohemia Historical Society Museum (Bohemia): Learn about the history of Bohemia.
• Bridgehampton Museum (Bridgehampton): This museum, run by the Bridgehampton Historical Society, teaches you about the history of Bridgehampton. It includes the historic Nathaniel Rogers House.
• Clinton Academy (East Hampton): This historic building was once a school. It's now part of the East Hampton Historical Society.
• Cutchogue Village Green (Cutchogue): This is an outdoor museum with several historic buildings. It includes the famous Old House (Cutchogue).
• David Conklin Farmhouse Museum (Huntington): Step back in time in this historic farmhouse. It shows how people lived during Colonial, Federal, and Victorian times.
• Davis Town Meeting House (Coram): This historic building was where the Town of Brookhaven held its meetings for most of the 1800s.
• Dr. Daniel Kissam House Museum (Huntington): Another historic house managed by the Huntington Historical Society.
• Earle-Wightman House (Oyster Bay): This historic house is run by the Oyster Bay Historical Society.
• Edwards Homestead (Sayville): Learn about Sayville's past in this historic home. It's operated by the Sayville Historical Society.
• Freeport Historical Museum (Freeport): Discover the history of Freeport. It's run by the Freeport Historical Society.
• Garvies Point Museum and Preserve (Glen Cove): Explore Long Island's geology, Native American culture, and natural history.
• Hallockville Museum Farm (Riverhead): This is a living history museum with 18 historic buildings on 28 acres of farmland. It shows what farm life was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• Halsey House (Southampton): A very old and important historic house in Southampton.
• Havens House (Shelter Island): This historic house is operated by the Shelter Island Historical Society.
• Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (Glen Cove): This museum teaches about the Holocaust. It also shows the dangers of hate and intolerance.
• Home Sweet Home (East Hampton): A historic house that inspired the famous song "Home Sweet Home."
• Islip Grange (Sayville): An open-air museum where you can see historic buildings.
• Jesse and Ira Tuthill Houses (Mattituck): These 18th and 19th-century houses are run by the Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society.
• Joseph Lloyd Manor (Lloyd Harbor): A beautiful late 18th-century manor house. It's maintained by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.
• Kings Park Heritage Museum (Kings Park): Learn about the history of Kings Park.
• Knothole (North Hills): This unique museum is inside the writing cabin of author Christopher Morley.
• Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum (Lake Ronkonkoma): Discover the local history of Lake Ronkonkoma.
• Lauder Museum (Amityville): Operated by the Amityville Historical Society, this museum shares Amityville's history.
• Levittown Historical Museum (Levittown): Learn about the history of Levittown, a famous planned community.
• Long Beach Historical Museum (Long Beach): This museum is run by the Long Beach Historical & Preservation Society.
• Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages (Stony Brook): This museum has three main parts: American art, Long Island history, and a collection of over 200 horse-drawn carriages.
• Long Island Psychiatric Museum (West Brentwood): Learn about the history of mental health hospitals on Long Island.
• Manor St. George (Ridge): A historic house also known as the Longwood Estate.
• Maple Lane Museum Complex (Southold): An open-air museum with several historic buildings. It includes houses, a print shop, and a schoolhouse.
• Mather House Museum (Port Jefferson): This complex of five historic buildings is the headquarters of the Port Jefferson Historical Society.
• Meadow Croft (Bayport): This late 19th-century summer estate belonged to John Ellis Roosevelt.
• Montauk County Park (Montauk): Includes the 18th-century Third House, which is open during certain seasons.
• Mulford Farmhouse (East Hampton): Experience farm life from the 1790s at this living history museum.
• Northport Historical Society and Museum (Northport): Located in a former library, this museum explores Northport's history.
• Old Bethpage Village Restoration (Old Bethpage): Step into a mid-19th-century farming village. You can see how people lived and worked long ago.
• Old House (Cutchogue): This historic house is part of the Cutchogue Village Green.
• Old Village Hall Museum (Lindenhurst): This museum, run by the Lindenhurst Historical Society, is in the historic former village hall.
• Old Westbury Gardens (Old Westbury): Explore the beautiful former estate of John Shaffer Phipps.
• Oysterponds Historical Society Museum (Orient): This open-air museum includes an 18th-century village house and a schoolhouse.
• Pagan-Fletcher House (Valley Stream): A historic house operated by the Valley Stream Historical Society.
• Phillips House Museum (Rockville Centre): A restored Victorian house with exhibits about local history.
• Pollock-Krasner House and Studio (East Hampton): Visit the home and studio of famous artist Jackson Pollock.
• Raynham Hall Museum (Oyster Bay): This restored 22-room house shows what life was like from the 1770s to the 1870s.
• Rock Hall Museum (Lawrence): A beautiful mid-18th-century plantation-style house.
• Roslyn Landmark Society (Roslyn): This society operates a museum focused on Roslyn's local history.
• Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (Cove Neck): This was the home of President Theodore Roosevelt. It includes a museum about his life.
• Sagtikos Manor (West Bay Shore): This historic house shows how it changed from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
• Sands-Willets House (Flower Hill): A local history museum in a historic house, run by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.
• Sea Cliff Village Museum (Sea Cliff): This museum has a Victorian kitchen and a collection of toys and dolls.
• Sherwood-Jayne House (Setauket): An 18th-century house maintained by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.
• Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center & Museum (Southampton): Learn about the rich history and culture of the Shinnecock Indian Nation.
• Smithtown Historical Society (Village of the Branch): This society has several historic houses and barns. You can visit during special events.
• Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities Museum Gallery (Cold Spring Harbor): Housed in a former church, this museum shows local history exhibits.
• Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building (Huntington): This building, run by the Huntington Historical Society, honors local soldiers and sailors.
• Southampton Historical Museum (Southampton): This open-air museum includes the William Rogers Mansion, a schoolhouse, and various shops from the 19th century.
• Southold Indian Museum (Southold): See archaeological artifacts and learn about the culture of Long Island's Native Americans.
• Suffolk County Historical Society Museum (Riverhead): Explore paintings, furniture, and artifacts from the 18th to 20th centuries. Learn about whaling, farming, and early transportation.
• Suydam House (Centerport): An 18th-century house with local history exhibits, run by the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association.
• Swan River Schoolhouse (East Patchogue): This historic schoolhouse is operated by the Greater Patchogue Historical Society.
• Theodore Roosevelt County Park (Montauk): Features exhibits about the Spanish–American War and the Rough Riders.
• Thomas Dodge House (Port Washington): A historic house operated by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.
• Three Village Historical Society (Setauket): Learn about the history of the Three Village area.
• Town House (East Hampton): Another historic education building operated by the East Hampton Historical Society.
• Tuthill House Museum (Westhampton Beach): This historic house is run by the Westhampton Beach Historical Society.
• Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site (West Hills): Visit the birthplace of the famous American poet Walt Whitman.
• William Floyd House (Mastic): The home of William Floyd, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• William Miller House (Miller Place): An early 18th-century house operated by the Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society.

Art Museums and Galleries

• Dia Bridgehampton (Bridgehampton): This is one of the locations managed by the Dia Art Foundation, featuring modern art.
• Elderfields Preserve (Flower Hill): This preserve includes historic buildings and an art gallery.
• Firehouse Plaza Art Gallery (Uniondale): This art gallery is part of Nassau Community College.
• Gallery North (Setauket): See contemporary art in many forms, like painting, sculpture, and ceramics.
• Guild Hall (East Hampton): A community arts center with the Guild Hall Museum. It shows art by visual artists, including local ones.
• Heckscher Museum of Art (Huntington): This museum focuses on American landscape paintings and art by Long Island artists. It also has modern art and photography.
• Hofstra University Museum (Hempstead): Its collection includes art, photography, and cultural objects from all over the world, dating back 5,000 years.
• Islip Art Museum (East Islip): This museum features contemporary art. It's located in the historic Brookwood Hall.
• LongHouse Reserve (East Hampton): A beautiful 16-acre sculpture garden created by Jack Lenor Larsen.
• Nassau County Museum of Art (Roslyn Harbor): This museum has European and American art from the 19th and 20th centuries. It also has a children's art museum!
• Parrish Art Museum (Southampton): This museum focuses on American art, especially by artists from Eastern Long Island.
• Port Washington North Nautical Art Museum (Port Washington North): Find this art museum at Bay Walk Park.
• Staller Center (Stony Brook): This is the arts center of Stony Brook University. It includes the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery.
• Steinberg Museum of Art at Hillwood (Brookville): Part of Long Island University, this museum has temporary exhibitions from ancient to modern art.

Science and Nature Museums

• Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Learning Center (Brookhaven): Explore science and technology at this learning center.
• Caleb Smith State Park Preserve (Smithtown): This 543-acre park has a museum with exhibits about its history, nature, and ecosystems.
• Center for Science Teaching and Learning (Rockville Centre): A nature preserve where you can learn about science.
• Garvies Point Museum and Preserve (Glen Cove): Learn about Long Island's geology, Native American culture, and natural history.
• Hicksville Gregory Museum (Hicksville): This natural history museum has collections of fossils, butterflies, minerals, and old telephones.
• Long Island Science Center (Riverhead): Enjoy hands-on science activities here.
• Science Museum of Long Island (Plandome Manor): Offers hands-on science programs especially for children.
• South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center (Bridgehampton): Learn about the natural history of the South Fork of Long Island.
• Tackapausha Museum and Preserve (Seaford): See live animals and learn about Long Island's ecology.

Children's Museums

• Children's Museum of the East End (Bridgehampton): A fun museum designed just for kids!
• Long Island Children's Museum (Uniondale): Another fantastic museum with interactive exhibits for children.
• Long Island Explorium (Port Jefferson): This museum offers hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exploration for kids.

Transportation and Industry Museums

• 1901 Depot and Freight house (Lindenhurst): See a restored train depot, freight house, and old railroad equipment. It also has historical pictures of the area.
• American Airpower Museum (East Farmingdale): Features amazing flying World War II aircraft.
• American Merchant Marine Museum (Kings Point): Learn about marine art and artifacts. It also houses the National Maritime Hall of Fame.
• Bayport Aerodrome (Bayport): See historic flying aircraft here.
• Cradle of Aviation Museum (Uniondale): Explore the history of aviation with many aircraft on display.
• East End Seaport Museum (Greenport): This maritime museum is located in the old Greenport train station.
• East Rockaway Grist Mill Museum (East Rockaway): Located in a historic grist mill building.
• Hook Windmill (East Hampton): A restored windmill from 1736.
• Horton Point Lighthouse (Southold): This lighthouse is operated by the Southold Historical Society.
• Long Island Maritime Museum (West Sayville): Learn about ship models, the oyster industry, shipwrecks, and boats.
• Montauk Point Lighthouse (Montauk): Visit this historic lighthouse and its local history and maritime museum.
• Oyster Bay Railroad Museum (Oyster Bay): This museum is still being developed. It includes a historic train turntable.
• Railroad Museum of Long Island (Riverhead): Explore railroad history. It also has a location in Greenport.
• Saddle Rock Grist Mill (Saddle Rock): See a restored tidal grist mill.
• Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum (Sag Harbor): Learn about the town's whaling industry and local history.
• Stony Brook Grist Mill (Stony Brook): A historic grist mill.
• Verizon Telecom Pioneer Museum (Commack): Also known as the Long Island Telephone Pioneers Museum, it shows the history of telephones and communication technology.
• Wantagh Museum (Wantagh): This museum includes a historic railroad station, a train car, and a post office.
• Water Mill Museum (Water Mill): A colonial water-powered grist mill.
• The Whaling Museum & Education Center (Cold Spring Harbor): Learn about Long Island's whaling and maritime history.
• Wrong Island Railroad (Lake Ronkonkoma): See a cool operating model train display with O-gauge trains.

Firefighting and Military Museums

• Brookhaven Volunteer Firefighters Museum (Ridge): See firefighting equipment, vehicles, and uniforms.
• Cold Spring Harbor Fire House Museum (Cold Spring Harbor): Displays firefighting equipment, vehicles, and uniforms.
• Fire Boat Fire Fighter Museum (Greenport): Tour a docked and retired fireboat.
• Islip Town Firefighter Museum (Central Islip): This museum highlights the history of fire and EMS agencies in the Town of Islip.
• Museum of American Armor (Old Bethpage): See a collection of over 35 working armored vehicles from World War II. It honors our armed forces.
• Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center (Uniondale): Located inside the Cradle of Aviation Museum, this museum teaches about firefighting.
• Sag Harbor Fire Department Museum (Sag Harbor): Displays artifacts, murals, photographs, uniforms, and equipment from the fire department, dating back to 1803.
• Suffolk County Police Museum (Yaphank): Learn about the history of the Suffolk County Police Department.

Historic Houses and Estates

• Cedarmere (Roslyn Harbor): An early 20th-century mansion that was once the home of poet William Cullen Bryant.
• Custom House (Sag Harbor): A restored late 18th-century house.
• Falaise Mansion (Sands Point): A mid-20th-century mansion that belonged to Harry Frank Guggenheim. It's located in Sands Point Preserve.
• Mill Neck Manor (Mill Neck): A beautiful 20th-century Tudor Revival mansion. You can take guided tours by appointment.
• Oheka Castle (Huntington): An early 20th-century mansion that is now a hotel. You can take guided tours by reservation.
• Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park (Oyster Bay): This park includes the Coe Hall Historic House Museum, an arboretum, and over 400 acres of land.
• Vanderbilt Museum (Centerport): A historic mansion with collections of natural history, marine life, weapons, and cultural objects.

Sports and Other Unique Museums

• Alan and Helene Rosenberg Jewish Discovery Museum (Commack): Part of the Suffolk Y JCC, this museum explores Jewish life, history, and traditions.
• National Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame (Commack): Honors American Jewish figures who have excelled in sports.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

• Dinosaur Walk Museum (Riverhead): This museum closed in 2008.
• Goudreau Museum of Mathematics in Art and Science (New Hyde Park): This museum closed in 2006.
• Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences: This museum was once run by Stony Brook University.

More Museums to Discover

• List of museums in New York City
• List of museums in New York
• List of university art museums and galleries in New York State