Queens County Farm Museum facts for kids
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Cornell Farmhouse
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The Jacob and Catherine Adriance Farmhouse
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 73-50 Little Neck Parkway Queens, New York 11004 |
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| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial, Dutch Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001620 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1979 |
The Queens County Farm Museum, also known as Queens Farm, is a special place in Queens, New York City. It's a historic farm that covers about 47 acres (19 hectares) in the neighborhoods of Floral Park and Glen Oaks. This farm is the biggest area of farmland left in New York City that is still being used!
Queens Farm has been working since 1697, making it one of the oldest farms around. You can see old farm buildings, a greenhouse, fields where crops grow, and lots of farm animals. They also have cool old farm tools on display. The farm uses "sustainable agriculture," which means they grow food in a way that protects the environment. They even grow things all year long!
The farm is home to the Adriance Farmhouse, which is a very important building. It's recognized as a New York City Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. You can take free tours of the farmhouse on Saturdays and Sundays. If you visit between April and October, you can even go on fun hayrides! From May to October, the farm has a stand where you can buy fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown right there.
Exploring the Cornell Farmhouse
The Cornell Farmhouse was built a long, long time ago in 1750. It has a mix of Dutch and English building styles. This farmhouse is also known by other names, like the Creedmoor Farmhouse Complex or the Adriance Farmhouse.
It's a key part of the Queens County Farm Museum. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) owns and takes care of it. Because it's so old and important, it was named a New York City Landmark in 1976. Later, in 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical places across the country.
A Look Back: The Farm's History
For over 100 years, from 1697 to 1808, a Dutch family called the Adriances owned this farm. They built their three-room farmhouse in 1772, and it's still standing today! After the Adriances, different families owned the farm. It changed over time from a simple family farm to a "truck farming" business. This means they grew lots of vegetables and fruits to sell in nearby cities.
By 1900, under its last private owner, Daniel Stattel, the farm was one of the biggest and most valuable farms in Queens County. In 1926, the Stattel family sold the farm to Pauline Reisman, who then sold it to Creedmoor State Hospital. The hospital used the farm to grow food for its kitchen and to grow pretty plants for the hospital grounds. They also used it for "occupational therapy," which means patients could work on the farm as part of their treatment.
In 1975, a special law helped transfer the farm from the hospital to NYC Parks. The goal was to turn it into the amazing museum we know today!
