Old Bethpage Village Restoration facts for kids
| Established | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804 |
The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a special place in Old Bethpage, New York. It's like stepping back in time to a 19th-century farming village! This "living museum" covers about 209 acres. It opened in 1970. Many old buildings were saved from being torn down and moved here.
When you visit, you'll see people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. They show you what life was like long ago. You can watch them do chores and crafts from the 1800s. This village is also where the yearly Long Island Fair takes place.
The idea for the village started in 1963. That's when Nassau County bought a large farm called the Powell property. It was originally planned to be a zoo!
The village has also been used for filming. It was a main spot for the Apple TV+ show Dickinson. This show stars Hailee Steinfeld as the poet Emily Dickinson. The village's buildings were used as the Dickinson family homes.
Contents
What You Can See
The village has many old buildings. There are 51 buildings that have been saved. Seven more have been rebuilt to look like they did in the past. They are set up to look like a typical Long Island farming village from the mid-1800s. About twenty of these buildings are open for visitors to explore.
Historic Buildings
The Powell Farmhouse is very special. It's the only building that was already on the land when the county bought it. The Manetto Hill Methodist Church was the first building moved to the village. It came from Plainview.
You can visit Layton's Store to buy old-fashioned candy. The Noon Inn is a working tavern where you can get root beer and pretzels. The Schenck House is a very old Dutch farmhouse from the 1730s. The Bach Blacksmith Shop from Hicksville is where all the iron tools and parts for the village are made and fixed.
Fun Activities
There are always exciting things happening at the village, especially on weekends.
Special Events
- Civil War Reenactments: You can see people act out battles from the Civil War.
- Holiday Celebrations: The village celebrates holidays like the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving in old-fashioned ways.
- Candlelight Evenings: In winter, the village opens at night. It's decorated for a 19th-century Christmas. You can hear carols and enjoy special snacks and cider.
- Sheep to Shawl Days: Learn how wool goes from a sheep to a warm shawl.
- Hands-on-History Sundays: Kids can try out chores from the past.
- Halloween Fun: Enjoy ghost tours, pumpkin carving, and scavenger hunts.
- Long Island Fair: This fair has been held here since the village opened. It includes old-style vintage base ball games. You can also see demonstrations of 19th-century crafts.
- Junior Apprentice Program: This is a small summer camp for local children.
- Escape Room Games: You can play interactive games inside the historic houses.
- Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze: This is a huge Halloween event. Thousands of lit jack o’lanterns and pumpkin sculptures are on display. It's a half-mile walking trail with lights and music.
Village Music
The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band often performs here. They are a Civil War-style brass band. You can see them marching and playing outdoor concerts. This band was even featured in Ken Burns' famous TV series, The Civil War.
Restoration Farm
A small, organic farm called Restoration Farm is located on 7 acres of the village land. It started in 2007. This farm sells its fresh produce at a farm stand. It also sells through a CSA program.
Keeping the Village Open
In 2009, there was a plan to close all county parks, including Old Bethpage Village Restoration. This was to help reduce the county's debt. Many people signed a petition against this idea. They pointed out that 35,000 students visit the village every year.
