Don’t Skip the Bridgehampton Museum this Summer
A historical and cultural hub for Bridgehampton and other towns and hamlets in the Hamptons, the Bridgehampton Museum fosters appreciation for the community’s history, oral history, and cultural traditions of Eastern Long Island.
Through its educational lectures, exhibits, concerts, tours, and special events, the museum welcomes both Bridgehampton residents and visitors to partake in activities that celebrate the area’s rich cultural heritage. The museum’s archives offer scholarly researchers as well as the general public access to historical photos, documents, maps, and works of art that offer insight into the community’s history.
The Bridgehampton Historical Society, doing business as the Bridgehampton Museum, is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1956. It currently owns and occupies two acres on Main Street, and the property includes two contemporary barns, the Strong Wheelwright Shop (ca. 1870), the Bridgehampton Jail (1907), an outhouse (ca. 1890), and the William Corwith House (ca. 1825 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places).
The museum is the steward for the 1840 Nathaniel Rogers House, and, in collaboration with the Town of Southampton, has embarked on a major restoration of that house (also listed on the National Register of Historic Places). The museum’s new home will be in this home once restoration has been completed.
Some of the resources that the museum offers for academic research include:
Over 1,300 historical photographs covering everything from circus parades to car races.
More than 800 books on United States, New York, Long Island history and genealogy.
Over 300 historic books and bibles, with many of the bibles containing important genealogical information.
Close to 1,000 decorative arts objects and household items dating from the 18th through 20th century.
Over 1,500 billheads and receipts relating to life on the East End of Long Island, with a special focus on Bridgehampton.
Over 100 ledgers, diaries, and daybooks dating from 1730 to the early part of the 20th century, including the records of the Hand Brothers Farm and the Hallock &
Pierson Insurance Agency.
A collection of more than 300 letters that deal with everyday life on Long Island, with a particular focus on the lives of members of the Corwith family.
A collection of more than 2,100 pieces of clothing and textiles dating mostly from the late 19th to early 20th century.
So don’t miss the Bridgehampton Museum this summer! And check out its website for a list of fun as well as educational events.
Bridgehampton Museum
bhmuseum.org
