Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor

Specialties

We are New York City’s only general interest museum! The Staten Island Museum explores the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. Prehistoric beasts, to fine art, to authentic objects — we have it all.

History

Established in 1881.

The Staten Island Museum traces its beginnings to 1881, when a group of 14 young naturalists on Staten Island had the foresight to pool their collections and research efforts out of a concern that «the rapid growth of the community [has already] obliterated many of our most interesting natural objects.» Their goal was to keep a record for future generations against the anticipated loss of plant and animal species and to advocate for environmental preservation long before it was fashionable to do so.

By 1905, the collecting focus of the founders expanded to include works of art and important historic documents, creating in essence a «mini Smithsonian» that was focused on providing a cultural education for the residents of the Island community.

Today, the Staten Island Museum maintains and continues to build, in authentic specimens, photographs and field notes, an unbroken record of the changing biodiversity of the region, spanning more than 150 years.