Exploring history and sights close to home is always a positive experience. My husband and I recently visited Old Bethpage Village Restoration in New York. OBVR continues to be Long Island, New York’s most attended museum. The last time we came here was for a Christmas event with our young kids over a decade ago! So, we figured it was time to revisit and explore this destination again. Join us as we enjoy a slice of Long Island history at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
Let’s start with…
Its Mission
While much has changed since 1970 and will continue to change, several things will always remain: our desires to spread and expand our knowledge to others and educate the masses, and showcase 18th and 19th-century life as it was. This is at the forefront of our goals. We take pride in our heritage and it is our mission to leave our visitors with knowledge, and a new appreciation for this period in history and how it opened the doors leading to our present and future!
Its History
In 1963, the County of Nassau on Long Island, New York purchased 209 acres of property in Old Bethpage to support Long Island’s architectural and rural history of the 18th and 19th centuries. And with this in mind, the groundwork began for what would become Long Island’s Living History Museum.
And on June 27, 1970, Old Bethpage Village Restoration (OBVR) opened.
Historic Homes and Buildings
Explore over 18 historic homes and 50 buildings from the 1600s through the 1800s. They represent all backgrounds of life and they are the originals!
Visitors can explore the home of a farmer, a tailor, a hat shop, a general store, a Methodist church, and a schoolhouse to list a few. There are many other original structures on-site including outhouses, barns, sheds, and even a thimble factory. And that doesn’t include the thousands of artifacts from the period!
Exhibits, interpreters and tradespeople, farm animals, and interactive activities and demonstrations are offered throughout the village.
Farm Animals
OBVR has fields planted with crops as well as several barns among other buildings and gardens. The farms depict a typical 19th-century farm and barn area from rural Long Island and contain animals like cows, sheep, chickens, pigs geese, and more. But please note that this is NOT a petting zoo!
Special Events
Old Bethpage, as we locals call it, offers multiple events throughout the year.
Music weekends, the Long Island Fair, “The Great Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Blaze, Thanksgiving Celebration, and more entice visitors.
When we visited, exhibits for their Fall Fair were being installed on the grounds in preparation for the big weekend.
To learn more about their events, visit their website.
And there’s more if you want to explore. Head over next door to the…
The Museum of American Armour
Since June 6, 2014, The Museum of American Armor has been focused on showcasing a wide variety of armored vehicles from the nation’s military, including tanks, half-tracks, jeeps, and more while honoring our veterans.
To see event dates, exhibits on display, and historical information, please click this link.
And there’s more!
Restoration Farm
Opened in 2007, the Restoration farm is housed on 7 acres of the museum’s grounds and is focused on sustainable and organic agriculture. This is a working farm so if you’d like to buy some fresh produce, definitely stop by.
For further information, and to see farmstand dates, click here.
And last but not least, Old Bethpage operates because of the services of many of its…
Volunteers
Volunteers are crucial to the day-to-day operations, programming, and visitor experience at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. They provide a wide range of services including interpretation and maintenance services as well as filling the needs at specific events.
If interested in volunteering, please call 516-572-8416.
Whether you choose to visit or volunteer or maybe both, take a look at this special living history museum. You won’t be disappointed.
To read more about Long Island and many of its activities, click here.