Last updated: 12/6/2024
1555 Village Lane
Orient, NY 11957
PO Box 70
Orient, NY 11957
Sunday, Friday
2 PM - 5 PM
Staff may be available Monday thru Friday to open the doors and give tours.
If interested, please call the office at 631-323-2480 for more information.
Non-Member Adults is $10, which grants same-day access to all buildings.
For OHS Members & Children, admission to our buildings and exhibitions is free. Admission for non-Member Adults is $10, which grants same-day access to all buildings.
Adults: $10
Members: free
Children (6-17): Free
Children under 2: Free
|
Scott A. Robbins
phone: 631-323-2480
|
Local residents created Oysterponds Historical Society (OHS) in 1944 in order to bring people together to share and celebrate the unique history and culture of the North Fork, Long Island hamlets of Orient and East Marion. By presenting shared experiences from the past, we connect our rich heritage to the present and pass it on to future generations.
Today, OHS maintains seven historically-significant buildings located in the heart of Orient, New York’s landmark historic district; cares for 8½ acres of grounds, including Poquatuck Park, a cherished community gathering spot; and actively manages a collection of over 60,000 items, including historic artifacts, documents, diaries, works of art, and archival objects dating from pre-colonial times all the way through to the present.
Every year OHS offers compelling exhibitions of contemporary or historical significance, lectures, webinars, and other community events and activities open to the public, as well as resources for genealogical and archival research.
Oysterponds Historical Society (OHS) brings people together to share and celebrate the unique history and culture of Orient and East Marion. By presenting shared experiences from the past, we connect our rich heritage to the present and pass it on to future generations.
Local residents created Oysterponds Historical Society (OHS) in 1944 to preserve the history of the Orient and East Marion communities. Founding members Mrs. Henry F.J. Knobloch, Mrs. Alma Knox and Mr. George R. Latham—alarmed by the gradual disappearance of artifacts—collected documents, family records, tools, art, and other surviving evidence of the maritime, agricultural, cultural, and religious life of the early residents of this area.
OHS holds one of the most significant collections representing a single location on Long Island. The collection has more than 60,000 items dating to the earliest days of European settlement, nearly all collected from Orient and East Marion. The collection of documents and photographs has more than 11,500 cataloged items with many more awaiting inventory. The library consists of more than 4,600 books about Oysterponds history and that of the surrounding region.
The Oysterponds Historical Society has a variety of research resources--accessible by appointment only--including publications, videos, historic films, and large collections of archival documents, photographs, recordings, books, and historic objects. The collection of documents and photographs has more than 11,500 cataloged items with many more awaiting inventory. The library consists of more than 4,600 books about Oysterponds history and that of the surrounding region.
Winter lecture series, docent training, children's programs.
Today, OHS maintains seven historically-significant buildings located in the heart of Orient, New York’s landmark historic district; cares for 8½ acres of grounds, including Poquatuck Park, a cherished community gathering spot.
Several of OHS’s historic buildings are open to the public on a regular basis during the summer months: Village House is period-furnished with noteworthy pieces from the OHS collection and shown as a late 19th century boarding house, demonstrating a significant chapter in its history. Upstairs, the one-time bedrooms have been converted into six exhibition galleries, which are changed-out every year.
The 18th-century Webb House is also period-furnished and contains a permanent Maritime exhibition on the 2nd floor.
GOVERNANCE
The Old Point Schoolhouse’s Janet T. Swanson Exhibition Gallery is the venue for an annual summer exhibition drawn from OHS’s collections (temporarily closed).
The 19th century Red Barn was built originally as a grain storage shed located on the Orient wharf and subsequently moved 750 feet to its present location on the OHS campus. In 2024 it was revitalized and repurposed as a new exhibition space devoted to a permanent multi-media exhibition focusing on the storied farming and fishing history of Long Island’s North Fork.
The Oysterponds Historical Society is led by a Board of Trustees elected by the membership. The Trustees work closely with the professional staff, which consists of three full-time staff members (Executive Director; Development Associate; and Office Manager) and two part-time staff members (Curator and Collections Manager).
Access: Scholars, Members
Appointment required: Yes
Newsletter, books/publications on local history.
A Sense of Place
She wen't a Whaling
The Beach Plum Shop offers books, crafts, and gift items centered on the history of East Marion and Orient, NY.
Gift Shop
Three of OHS's historical buildings are ADA-compliant and two have ADA-compliant restrooms.
Wheelchair Accessible
Restrooms
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is
provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as
to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc.
and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such
use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.