Historical & Cultural Centers

2021 Historical and Cultural centers

As the most diverse county in the United States, Queens is home to some amazing museums, large and small. Centers for history, science, art and culture can be found across the borough, and many are a piece of history themselves — structures such as the Bayside Historical Society Castle, Bowne House and Lewis Latimer House are landmark buildings that have survived for centuries. Most are closed for now, off ering online exhibits and events, though some remain open by appointment only.

BAYSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Th e Castle, Building 208, Fort Totten, Bayside (718) 352-1548

baysidehistorical.org Th e Bayside Historical Society, founded in 1964, collects and preserves artifacts and material related to Bayside’s illustrious past. It is housed in a Civil War-era offi cers club in historic Fort Totten. Hours: Th u.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun., 12-4 p.m. Admission: (suggested) $3

BOWNE HOUSE

37-01 Bowne St., Flushing (718) 359-0528

bownehouse.org Built between 1661 and 1696, it was the home of religious leader John Bowne, a major fi gure in the fi ght for freedom of worship in the early days of Colonial America. Th e house is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a New York City landmark. Hours: Wed., 1–4 p.m.

FLUSHING QUAKER MEETING HOUSE

137-16 Northern Blvd., Flushing (718) 358-9636

nyym.org/fl ushing Members of the Flushing Society of Friends have been using this meeting house for more than 300 years and, to this day, still do. One the oldest houses of worship in the country. it is open to the public for a short time aft er Sunday services. Group tours at other times are welcome by arrangement. Hours: Sun., noon-12:30 p.m.

GODWIN-TERNBACH MUSEUM

Queens College 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing (718) 997-4747

One of the most unpredictable museums in Queens, it maintains a comprehensive collection of 6,000 works art and artifacts ranging from ancient to modern times. Th e collection includes pieces from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America and its changing exhibitions feature unusual and original cultural connections. Hours: Mon.-Th u., 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Free Tours: February-December. Admission: (suggested) $5, seniors and students $3, children 4-16 free.

KING MANOR MUSEUM

153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica (718) 206-0545

kingmanor.org From 1805 to 1827, this was the home of Rufus King, a signer of the Constitution, one of New York’s fi rst senators and America’s fi rst ambassador to Great Britain. It is among the oldest house museums in the United States. The New York Hall of Science draws crowds when open, but is online-only, for now. The New York Hall of Science draws crowds when open, but is online-only, for now.

Hours: Th u.-Fri., Mon.-Wed., 12-2 p.m.; Sat.Sun., 1-5 p.m.

ISAMU NOGUCHI GARDEN MUSEUM

32-37 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City (718) 204-7088

noguchi.org One of America’s most acclaimed and innovative sculptors, Noguchi turned his Long Island City studio into a museum three years before his death. It features his work in several settings, including his favorite place, a garden he designed. Hours: Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,, Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Closed: Mon.-Tue. Admission: $10, seniors and students $5.

LEWIS H. LATIMER HOUSE

34-41 137 St., Flushing (718) 961-8585

Built in the Queen Anne style in 1887, the historic house was the home of one of the greatest inventors of the 19th century. Th omas Edison invented the light bulb. But it was Latimer, the son of a former slave, who invented the fi lament that made it light up for more than a few hours. Hours: Open Wed., Fri. and Sun., noon–5 p.m.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE AND ARCHIVES

34-56 107 St., Corona (718) 478-8274

satchmo.net Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans but, in the last part of his incredible life, he lived in Queens. Th e house in Corona he shared with his wife, Lucille, was donated to the city aft er his death and has been made into a museum and educational center. Hours: Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. Admission: $8, seniors, students, children, group rate $6. Tours: every hour, on the hour.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE

35th Avenue at 36 St., Astoria (718) 777-6888

movingimage.us A one-of-a-kind museum devoted to the history and technology of movies, television and video. Hours: Tue.-Th u., 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri., 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Closed Mon. Admission: $12, children 3-18 $6, college students and seniors $9. Museum members and children under 5 are admitted free. Free admission Fri., 4-8 p.m.

MoMA PS1

22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City (718) 784-2084

ps1.org A subsidiary of the Museum of Modern Art, the museum was set up in the early 1970s in an unused school building and became one of the leading — and largest — centers of contemporary art in the world. Hours: Th u.-Mon., noon-6 p.m.

NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE

47-01 111 St., Flushing (718) 699-0005

nyhallsci.org Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, it is a broad-range museum with more than 160 hands-on exhibits, geared mostly to children. A 30,000-square-foot science playground and outdoor lab is a special attraction. Hours: Th u., Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun., 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue., Wed., 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Closed: Mon. Admission: adults $11, children: (2 to 17, college w/ID) $8, senior citizens: (age 62 and over) $8. Th e science playground is open to children of all ages with adult supervision, March to December, weather permitting.

POPPENHUSEN INSTITUTE

114-04 14 Road, College Point (718) 358-0067

poppenhuseninstitute.org Built as College Point’s town hall — including a two-cell jail — with Money donated by industrialist Conrad Poppenhusen, it housed the fi rst kindergarten in America and off ered free night classes to adults. Today it is a cultural center and a museum of local history. Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Wed., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri., 12-6 p.m.; Closed:Tue., Th u., Sat. and Sun.

QUEENS HISTORICAL SOCIETY

143-35 37 Ave., Flushing (718) 939-0647

Th e central repository of information — maps, photos, books, pamphlets and documents — on the history and heritage of Queens, it is housed in the Kingsland Homestead, built in the late 1700s and the fi rst house in Queens designated a city landmark. It off ers changing exhibits, but the heart of the house is a room furnished with Victorian antiques. Hours: Th u. and Fri., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat. and Sun., 2:30–4:30 p.m., Tue. and Wed., 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

QUEENS MUSEUM

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing (718) 592-9700

queensmuseum.org Th e largest and most active art museum in the borough, it is housed in the building that served as the New York State Pavilion for the 1936 World’s Fair and fi rst home to the United Nation. Despite its ambitious schedule of exhibitions, the main attraction may be the Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,300-square-foot, meticulous scale model of New York City which includes skyscrapers, parks, rivers and bridges. It has been recently updated. Summer hours (July 4 - Labor Day): Wed.Sun.: noon-6 p.m.; Fri.: 12-8 p.m. Regular Hours (September 4 -July 3): Wed.Fri.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun.:12-5 p.m.; closed Mon.-Tue. Admission: $5, $2.50 (seniors and students).

VANDER-ENDE ONDERDONK HOUSE

1820 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood (718) 456-1776

Built in 1709, the Onderdonk house is the oldest Dutch colonial house in New York City. Th e stone house, located on two acres of gardens and lawns, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Hours: Wed., 3-7 p.m. Sat. and Sun., 1-5 p.m.

VOELKER ORTH MUSEUM

149-19 38 Ave., Flushing (718) 359-6227

vomuseum.org A museum in an exemplary Victorian house, it off ers Victorian tea parties and craft s workshops. Th e highlight is a Victorian garden and bird sanctuary. Hours: House tours are free every weekend during public hours. Sat.-Sun., 1-4 p.m. Admission: $2.