Access for all: Grand reopening to include new exhibit, plus display celebrating America’s 250th
A glimpse of the work taking place at the Northport Historical Society and Museum, where an additional entrance is near completion (railing to come) as part of the organization’s Access for All Project. A grand reopening and ribbon cutting will take place on Thursday, August 27.
The Northport Historical Society and Museum will celebrate the completion of its long-awaited Access for All Project with a grand reopening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, August 27. A significant milestone in the museum’s commitment to making local history even more accessible, the project included the construction of an additional entrance and an ADA-compliant restroom in the Main Street building.
With the support of the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation, which awarded the society a 50% matching grant, the project ensures that visitors of all ages and abilities can more easily enjoy the museum’s exhibits, programs, and collections.
“The completion of the Access for All Project represents much more than a construction project, it reflects our commitment to ensuring that everyone can experience and connect with our shared history,” said Terry Reid, executive director of the Northport Historical Society and Museum. “We are deeply grateful to the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation and the many generous donors whose support made this project possible.”
The society also recognizes the leadership and dedication of its board of trustees, whose vision and commitment were instrumental in bringing the Access for All Project from concept to completion. Trustee and Access for All Committee Chair Jim Munson worked closely with fellow committee members and Board President Carolyn P. Hyatt-Basche, Vice President Alan Vitters, Secretary Suzanne McGuire, George Abbale, Gregg Fenton, Joseph Schmitz, Thomas Stack and Dennis Tannenbaum, as well as Radon Construction and Thalheimer Architecture, throughout every phase of the renovation. “This project has been a labor of love for our entire board,” Munson said. “From the beginning, our goal was to remove barriers. Seeing that vision become a reality is incredibly rewarding, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished together.”
The Northport Historical Society and Museum also recognizes the community members whose generous contributions helped fulfill the required matching funds: Michael and Kathleen Dowling; Steven and Lisa Radgowski; Dennis and Wendy Tannenbaum; Robert and Priscilla Hughes; Ted Kaplan and Henry Tobin; the Asharoken Garden Club; Steven and Susan Eckers; and Ellen McLaughlin.
The public is invited to join the society for its grand reopening celebration on Thursday, August 27, from 4 to 6pm. The event will begin with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 4pm, followed by a reception featuring light bites and refreshments. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the museum and experience the new accessible features.
The society’s current exhibition, “Interiors,” which explores the homes and everyday lives of Northport and East Northport residents through the objects they lived with and treasured, will also be available for viewing. From modest parlors to modern living rooms, the exhibition reveals the rhythms of daily life and reflects the lives, aspirations, and stories of the people who built, furnished, and cherished these spaces.
Also on display, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, will be a remarkable double-sided, hand-painted silk flag depicting George Washington on one side and an American eagle on the other. The flag is believed to have been displayed from a window in Huntington during Washington’s 1790 Grand Tour of Long Island as a tribute to local supporters and members of the Culper Spy Ring following the Revolutionary War.
The museum will be stamping official Suffolk County 250th passport books during the grand reopening event as well, during which guests can catch a special sneak peek at the recently discovered Girl Scouts time capsule unearthed during construction on the museum grounds.
Looking ahead is a new permanent exhibition opening this September that will present the comprehensive history of Northport and East Northport through engaging artifacts, photographs and interactive displays, providing a lasting interpretation of the community’s rich heritage for years to come.
RSVP for the grand reopening here. For more information about the Northport Historical Society and Museum, visit www.northporthistorical.org.
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