Vanderbilt Museum facts for kids
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William K. Vanderbilt Estate-Eagles Nest
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Vanderbilt Mansion
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, New York 11721 |
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| Area | 43 acres (17 ha) |
| Architect | Warren & Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Spanish Baroque |
| MPS | Huntington Town MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002545 (original) 100006094 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 26, 1985 |
| Boundary increase | February 2, 2021 |
The Vanderbilt Museum is a cool place to visit in Centerport, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. It's named after William Kissam Vanderbilt II (1878–1944), who was a famous explorer and collector. This museum is located on his old 43-acre (17 ha) estate, which he called Eagle's Nest.
Contents
History of Eagle's Nest
A Gift to the Community
William K. Vanderbilt II loved collecting things from around the world. In his will, he decided to give his amazing property to the county. He wanted his mansion and grounds to become a museum. This museum would display his collections of marine life, natural history, and objects from different cultures. The natural history part of the museum opened in 1950.
To help people learn even more, the county built a planetarium on the grounds in 1970. This made the museum a great place for both history and science.
Building the Mansion
Vanderbilt's beautiful home was built in three main stages. The first part was a large 24-room mansion. It was designed in a Spanish revival style. The famous New York architecture firm Warren and Wetmore created the design. This firm also helped design Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The building work for the estate lasted from 1910 to 1936.
Since the 1930s, the mansion and museum have been home to an ancient Egyptian mummy. William Vanderbilt II bought this mummy in 1931 from an antique shop in Cairo, Egypt.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum complex is run by Suffolk County. It includes the grand mansion with its original furniture and art. There's also a marine museum filled with sea creatures and natural history items. You can see butterflies, birds, shells, mammals, and fish.
The property also has a curator's cottage, a seaplane hangar, and a boathouse. You can explore lovely gardens and a collection of objects from different cultures. These include old firearms, swords, and models of ships. There are also items from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 26, 1985. This means it's an important historical site.
Living History Tours
Step Back in Time
During the summer, the museum offers special "living history tours" once a week. Staff members dress up in costumes from the past. They act out scenes from the "Gold Coast" era, which was a time when wealthy families lived on Long Island.
These performances share stories about William Vanderbilt and other people who lived and worked at the estate. The staff uses information from Vanderbilt's own journals and old records to make the tours feel real. It's like stepping back in time!
Planetarium
Exploring the Stars
The planetarium at the Vanderbilt Museum first opened in 1971. It was one of the first of its kind. Mark Levine, the planetarium director, said it became a model for many other planetariums built across the country.
In 2013, the planetarium got a big upgrade. The roof, carpets, and seats were all replaced. The gift shop, lobby, and ticket office also got a fresh new look. The planetarium now has a special Konica Minolta GeminiStar III projector. This projector, along with a full dome display and surround sound, makes you feel like you're really traveling through space!
Public Observatory
The planetarium also has an observatory. This is a building with a powerful telescope. It's open to the public on Friday nights. The observatory has a large 16-inch Meade LX200R telescope. It has a roof that rolls off, letting you see the night sky clearly. It's a great chance to look at stars, planets, and galaxies!
Gallery
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View of pool area and Northport Bay from main house
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Courtyard of main house in late summer
