Museums, exhibits in Nassau County to explore
Visit the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay and more spots in Nassau County. Credit: Chris Ware
Long Island's many museums can fill part of your day with historical fun. Here are notable museums and exhibits to explore in Nassau County this season.
Approximately 80 motorcycles are on display at 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay, including ones owned and used by Billy Joel. Credit: Christopher Occhicone
20TH CENTURY CYCLES, 101 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay, 20thcenturycycles.com. Hours 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Features more than 75 of Billy Joel’s motorcycles, and each one has a story. Fee Free.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NASSAU COUNTY, 110 N. Franklin St., Hempstead, 516-572-0730, theaamuseum.org. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. Depicts history and contributions of local African-Americans. Fee Free.
AMERICAN AIRPOWER MUSEUM, 1230 New Hwy., Republic Airport, East Farmingdale, 631-293-6398, americanairpowermuseum.org. Hours 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun. June through Labor Day. Fleet of operational World War II fighters and bombers and static Cold War jets. Fee $13, $10 seniors and veterans, $8 ages 4-12.
You'll see a wide collection of instruments at the American Guitar Museum in New Hyde Park. Credit: Newsday/T.C. McCarthy
AMERICAN GUITAR MUSEUM, 1810 New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park, americanguitarmuseum.com, 516-488-5000. Hours Call for hours. More than 200 guitars on display from early 1800s to now. Exhibit: "If You Like Science, You Can Do Anything!" features washtub guitar, cigar box ukulele and stringed instruments from around the world. Fee Free.
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE MUSEUM, Steamboat Road on grounds of U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, usmma.edu/museum, 516-726-6047. Hours 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tue.-Fri., closed Sat.-Mon., federal holidays, academic vacations and month of July. Museum displays ship models, paintings and a 1945 radio room from a Victory ship. Fee Free.
CEDARMERE PRESERVE, Bryant Avenue, just north of Northern Boulevard, Roslyn Harbor, 516-248-2131, friendsofcedarmere.org. Hours Grounds open daily. Dawn to dusk. The home of 19th century poet William Cullen Bryant. Fee Free.
COE HALL AT PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, Oyster Bay, 516-922-8684 or info@plantingfields.org, plantingfields.org. Hours Visitor center: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wed., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thur.-Sun. through Nov. 1. Estate of William Robertson Coe and Standard Oil heiress Mai Rogers Coe. Tudor-revival home by architects Walker & Gillette and the Olmsted Brothers landscape reflects 1920s style. Exhibit: "Coe Hall: Designing Nature Inside and Out," "The Great Bird Blind Debate" and "Everett Shinn: Operatic." Fee $10, $9 ages 62 and older, $5 ages 11-17, free 10 and younger. Parking: $8 daily through Labor Day then weekends and holidays only until Nov. 21; free parking weekdays for seniors. Fees collected on all holidays.
GARVIES POINT MUSEUM AND PRESERVE, 50 Barry Dr., Glen Cove, garviespointmuseum.com, 516-571-8010. Hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sat.; preserve open daylight hours. Museum presents L.I. geology and archaeological history. Fee $5, $3 ages 5-12; free for preserve.
HICKSVILLE GREGORY MUSEUM, 1 Heitz Place, Hicksville, 516-822-7505, gregorymuseum.org. Hours 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 1-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun., closed Mon., groups by appointment. Features L.I.’s largest mineral collection, more than 5,000 butterfly and moth specimens, and fossils. Aug. 22 Mineral and Fossil Fun Day. Fee $5, $3 seniors and kids.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AND TOLERANCE CENTER OF NASSAU COUNTY, 100 Crescent Beach Rd., in Welwyn Preserve, Glen Cove, 516-571-8040, hmtcli.org. Hours 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Living memorial to Holocaust victims. Docent-led tours upon request. Fee Suggested donation $10, $5 seniors, $4 students.
LONG ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, 516-224-5800, licm.org. Hours 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thur.-Sun. Sept.-June 30; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tue.-Sun. July-Aug.; groups by appointment. Our Backyard, seasonal outdoor exhibit, opens May. Fee $14, $13 seniors, free younger than 1.
MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARMOR, Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, museumofamericanarmor.org, 516-454-8265. Hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri.-Sun (last ticket sold at 3 p.m.). See operating World War II armor as the clock is turned back to 1944 France. Fee $15, $12 ages 5-12 and seniors, includes admission to Village Restoration.
NASSAU COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER, 1 Davis Ave., Garden City, ncfiremuseum.org, 516-572-4177. Focus is on fire prevention and education, including history of Nassau County volunteer fire service. Fee $5, free younger than 2.
Lisa Casal-Galietta of Farmingville, violinist with The Massapequa Philharmonic, performs at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor, 516-484-9337, nassaumuseum.org. Hours 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Tue.-Sun. The 145-acre property has formal gardens, rare specimen trees, 8 miles of hiking trails, a sculpture garden, 10 galleries and much more. The Massapequa Philharmonic, the orchestra in residence, performs on select Sundays. Exhibit: through Nov. 7, "La Belle Époque" Saltzman Fine Art Building. Fee $15, $10 seniors and students, $5 ages 4-12.
NORTH SHORE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 140 Glen St., Glen Cove, northshorehistoricalmuseum.org, 516-801-1191. Hours Noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Spring/Summer Exhibit: "Art of the Tiffany Foundation." Fall Exhibit: "The Railroad Comes to the North Shore." Permanent displays include an original courtroom, artwork by George Gach of Roslyn and a tribute to "Butch the Bum," Glen Cove's favorite dog. Fee $5, $4 seniors and ages 13-17, free 12 and younger.
NYCB CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City, 516-572-4111, cradleofaviation.org. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun., (open for groups Mon.-Tue.). Over 75 air and spacecraft in 8 exhibit galleries. Planetarium full-dome theater. Exhibit: "The Arcade Age" (retro video game arcade), available weekends. Fee Museum: $16, $14 ages 2-12 and ages 62 and older; Planetarium: $10, $9 ages 2-12 and ages 62 and older; Museum and Planetarium: $21, $19 ages 2-12 and 62 and older; Arcade Age Exhibit: $10 a child or adult. Timed ticketing available online.
OLD BETHPAGE VILLAGE RESTORATION, Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, obvrnassau.com, 516-572-8401. Hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Sun. until Nov. 28. Represents a 19th century Long Island community; incorporates 51 historic buildings, including a 1730 Dutch farmhouse, a tavern, blacksmith shop, Methodist church and general store. Fee $15, $12 ages 5-12, older than 60.
OYSTER BAY RAILROAD MUSEUM, 1 Railroad Plaza, Oyster Bay, 516-558-7036, obrm.org. Hours Noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Historic landmark train station. Display yard with railroad cars and operating turntable. Fee $6, $4 ages 6-12, $5 62 and older, free 5 and younger.
PHILLIPS HOUSE MUSEUM, 28 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-764-7459. Hours 1-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Sept.-June; Sun. only in Aug. Groups by appointment. Restored Victorian house, circa 1870; the residence of Capt. Samuel F. Phillips displays kitchen and carpentry tools, period furniture and vintage clothing. Fee Free.
POLISH AMERICAN MUSEUM, 16 Belleview Ave., Port Washington, polishamericanmuseum.com, 516-883-6542. Hours 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wed.-Fri., weekends by appointment. Documents, maps and paintings about Polish immigrants, photos, lithographs and a library. Military Polish collection including medals, uniforms and citations. WW I exhibit opening soon. Fee Donation.
RAYNHAM HALL MUSEUM, 20 W. Main St., Oyster Bay, 516-922-6808, raynhamhallmuseum.org. Hours 1-5 p.m. Tue.-Sun., closed Mon. This 1738 structure was the homestead of Robert Townsend, a central member of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring, and was occupied by British Maj. John Graves Simcoe during the Revolutionary War. School tours by appointment. Fee $7, $5 older than 65 and students, free 6 and younger.
Step back in time as staffers and re-enactors at the Rock Hall Museum host tours, share Colonial cooking techniques and discuss the history of Rock Hall. Visitors can play traditional Colonial games and learn about period crafts, taste the food of the period and other activities. Event is noon-4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, 2017, at the Rock Hall Museum, 199 Broadway, Lawrence. For more information, call 516-239-1157 or visit friendsofrockhall.org. Admission is free and additional parking is available next door at the Lawrence Elementary School/Middle School at Broadway Campus... Credit: Rock Hall Museum
ROCK HALL MUSEUM, 199 Broadway, Lawrence, 516-239-1157, friendsofrockhall.org, hempsteadny.gov. A fully furnished Georgian Colonial manor house with an 18th-century warming kitchen, wine and cold storage displays in cellar, permanent archaeology exhibit room. Grounds open daily until 4 p.m. Fee Free for museum grounds.
SAGAMORE HILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay, nps.gov/sahi, 516-922-4788. Hours Buildings closed until further notice. Grounds open daily, dawn to dusk. Fee Free for grounds.
SCIENCE MUSEUM OF LONG ISLAND, 1526 N. Plandome Rd., Manhasset, 516-627-9400, smli.org. Hours Open daily. In the Leeds Pond Preserve, the museum features organic gardens, animals, educational programs, summer camp, off-site fossil digs, nature walks. Fee Varies; free to walk preserve.
TACKAPAUSHA MUSEUM AND PRESERVE, 2225 Washington Ave., Seaford, nassaucountyny.gov, 516-571-7443. Hours Museum open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thur.-Sun.; preserve open daily till dusk. Seasonal exhibits of local wildlife (100 animals) and plants. Fee $5, $3 ages 5 and older and seniors.
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM JUDAICA MUSEUM, 401 Roslyn Rd., Roslyn Heights, 516-621-2288, tbsroslyn.org. Hours Closed due to COVID. Jewish heritage through permanent and changing exhibits of ritual and art objects, photos and paintings. Fee Donation.
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