Where to: History at the Museums – In the Suburbs

ROCKLAND

DePew House
196 Blaisdell Road, Orangeburg
(845) 398-1302; www.orangetownmuseum.com
The Hudson: A Maritime Memoir. From early Indian traders to ferry and steamboat lines, the Hudson River has transported us and been an inspiration to artists and writers. Explore the many effects that the river has had on our lives and hearts over the centuries. All ages. May 3-November 7. Tuesdays 10am-2pm, Sundays 1-4pm. Donations requested: $4, $2 children. 

The Historical Society of Rockland County
20 Zukor Road, New City
845-634-9629; www.rocklandhistory.org

Through March 1, Tuesdays-Sundays 12-4pm. The 33rd Annual Miniature & Dollhouse Show: The Child in All of Us. Visit the land of enchantment and surprise. Be amazed and delighted with the beautiful examples of dollhouses and miniatures, both antique and modern. Two galleries of antique pedal cars, dollhouses, dolls, miniatures and other treats, showcasing quilts by Mary Jane Sexton, handmade dolls by Pat Mott, pedal cars by James Hopper, and the work of many other talented regional contributors.  $7, $3 under 12.

The Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives
213 Blue Hill Road, Pearl River
(845) 735-0429; www.orangetownmuseum.com

At Home in Orangetown offers a glimpse of what life was like during our nation’s centennial in 1876. A period model of the 1776 House, furniture and artifacts from the Jackson family, as well as other primary source materials are used to recreate this fascinating period and offer some surprises. Ongoing. 10am-2pm. All ages. Donations requested: $4, $2 children.

WESTCHESTER

Greenburgh Nature Center
99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale
914-723-3470; www.greenburghnaturecenter.org

February 14, 2pm. Lessons in Living…What We Can Learn from the Turtle. Through ages of ice and ages of volcanoes, turtles have been quietly living on earth for over 200 million years. Come meet and get to know some of the Nature Center’s turtles, learn their ancient secrets of survival and how to protect them in our urbanized environment. All ages. $5, $4 seniors/students, $3 children 2-12, FREE under 2.

Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
29 Warburton Ave, Yonkers
(914) 965-4027; www.philipsemanorfriends.org

February 15, 12-4pm.  Annual Presidents Day Celebration. See how you measure up against the heights of previous Presidents of the U.S., sample the food they ate, dress up in Colonial clothing and take a free digital photo that is printed for you on site! All ages. FREE. 
March 21, 2-5pm. Ladies’ Colonial Tea. A teatime for ladies and girls. Learn about high society as the Philipse women would have known it. Drink tea, learn about the Philipse women, read from a play written about the family in the Colonial era, and more. Period dress is encouraged, but not required. RSVP requested. All ages. FREE.

Putnam County Historical Society & Foundry School Museum
65 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring
845-265-4010; www.pchs-fsm.org

February 7, 5pm. Dutch Colonial Influence on the American Kitchen, illustrated through the art of the 17th-century Dutch Masters, with Peter G. Rose, food historian. All ages. $5, $2 ages 7-12 and seniors, FREE under 7.

Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site
897 South Columbus Ave, Mount Vernon
(914) 667-4116; www.nps.gov/sapa

May 9, 5-9pm. St. Paul’s Historic Dinner. A special benefit event recognizing the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The event features a historic style dinner, Lincoln re-enactor, as well as music and talk commemorating the Civil War President and his connection to St. Paul’s. All ages. Call for ticket prices and reservations.
 June 13, 12-4pm. Colonial Day. Colonial era music, dancing, crafts, and games. There will also be a special tour of the Colonial section of the historic cemetery, and a concert on the historic pipe organ by concert organist-in-residence Dr. Jan Piet Knijff. All ages. FREE.

FAIRFIELD

The Barnum Museum
820 Main St, Bridgeport
203-331-1104; www.barnum-museum.org 
February 17, 1-2pm. With Love and Honor: Postcards that Celebrated February. Bob Berthelson will talk about the importance of the penny postcard, a holiday greeting that was popular between 1905 and 1915. These cards had bits of metal, cloth, and scenes with wheels that turned to change color in pictures. Following the discussion, children can make their own penny postcard. This is a drop-off program. Ages 5-12. FREE with museum admission of $7, $5 students/seniors, $4 ages 4-17, FREE 3 and under.
April 14, 1-2pm. General Party Games. Long before television, movies and the Internet, Victorian party games were the highlight of social gatherings. Play games such as the Bellman, Smells, and the Sculptor. This is a drop-off program. Call in advance for reservation. All ages. FREE with museum admission of $7, $5 students/seniors, $4 ages 4-17, FREE 3 and under.
April 16, 1-2pm. Table Games, Marbles and Cards. Victorian party games such as checkers, marbles and Old Maid will be played. This is a drop-off program. Call in advance for reservation. All ages. FREE with museum admission of $7, $5 students/seniors, $4 ages 4-17, FREE 3 and under.

Bruce Museum
One Museum Drive, Greenwich
203-869-0376; www.brucemuseum.org

February 8, 1-4pm. Dinosaur Family Day. There will be dinosaur craft activities, exploratory gallery hunts through the exhibitions Dinosaurs: The Art of Reconstruction and Digging for Dinosaurs, as well as a fossil preparator from the American Museum of Natural History and a dinosaur illustrator on hand to demonstrate their skills. Ages 5 and older. FREE with museum admission of $7, $6 ages 5-22/seniors 65 and up, FREE under 5.

Bush Holley Historic Site
39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob
203 869-6899; www.hstg.org

March 29, 12-2pm. Liberty’s Kids Mini-Marathon. Children will watch four 30-minute episodes of the PBS animated children’s television series, Liberty’s Kids, the history program that follows the American Revolution through the eyes of three teens. Episodes include “The Boston Tea Party,” “Intolerable Acts,” “The Midnight Ride,” and “The Shot Heard Round the World.” Hands-on activities also included. All ages. Reservations requested. FREE.
June 7, 12-2pm. American Girl Celebration II. Listen to tales about Felicity, a colonial American Girl from the popular American Girl stories. Learn about Felicity’s life and family while touring the Bush-Holley House, and create Colonial-style crafts. Owning an American Girl doll not required. Reservations required.  Ages 5 and up. $7.

Fairfield Museum and History Center
370 Beach Road, Fairfield
203-259-1598; www.fairfieldhs.org
• February 11, 4:30-6pm. Girls Club! Learn about what girls did in the past. In honor of Lincoln’s bicentennial and Black History Month, learn about the Civil War and slavery. Make a small quilt using Underground Railroad symbols and have a snack from the time period. Ages 8 and up. $15.
February 11, 4:30-6pm. The Civil War. In honor of Lincoln’s bicentennial and Black History Month, learn about the Civil War and slavery. Make a small quilt using Underground Railroad symbols and make a snack from the time period. Ages 9-11. Pre-registration required. $35. Please bring a peanut-free snack for your child.
February 16, 2pm. Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. “A Simple Story You’ll Never Forgetwith Storyteller Carolyn Stearns.” Explore Carolyn’s Lincoln family connection and other stories that celebrate the life of Abraham Lincoln, blending props, puppets and music. All ages. $3.
February 19, 9am-12pm. President for a Day. Learn about Fairfield’s “Presidential Visits” and find out what it’s like to be president for a day. Participants will see the historic buildings on the Green where Presidents have visited. Create an agenda book for the day, select activities, role-play and make presidential speeches! Ages 9-11. Pre-registration required. $35. Bring a peanut-free snack for your child.
February 20, 2pm. They Called Me Lizzy – From Slavery to the White House. This one-woman performance traces the life of Lizzy. Born into slavery, she eventually purchased her freedom, and was recognized by Mary Todd Lincoln for her dressmaking skills and entrepreneurial savvy, often being in the room with the President and Mrs. Lincoln during some of their most private moments. Ages 12 and up. $3. 
March 11, 4:30pm-6pm. Girls Club! Learn about the different contributions that women have made in history. Experiment with making your own invention or choose a cause to get involved in. Bring your favorite doll, make a doll-sized craft, and enjoy a fun cooking project, all based on women in history. Pre-registration required. Ages 8 and up. $15.
March 11, 4:30-6pm. Women in History. Learn about the different contributions that women have made in history.  Experiment with making your own invention or choose a cause to get involved in. Ages 9-11. Pre-registration required. $35. Bring a peanut-free snack for your child.