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Education Programs
Pyrrhus Concer:
An Adventurous Life
Learn about the historic and thrilling life of Pyrrhus Concer. Born the son of slaves in the Village of Southampton, he eventually became a successful whaler, entrepreneur and one of the most well respected men in the community.
One-Room Schoolhouse
Travel back in time with our one-room schoolhouse from the Red Creek area of Hampton Bays that was built c. 1830. In the 1700's up until more recent than you would think, many American's got their education inside of these small structures. Students will get the chance to go inside the schoolhouse and get a lesson in early American education. They will learn to do math on an abacus, write with a real quill pen and compare and contrast modern school with how things used to be.
Halsey House
Tour through the Halsey House, the oldest English style home in the state of New York, built c. 1683. See first hand what life would have been like for Southampton's first settlers with a house full of artifacts from the 1800's, 1700's and 1600's. Also get a chance to experience our colonial herb garden in the backyard.
Pelletreau Silver Shop
The Pelletreau Silver Shop is the oldest continuously open trade shop in the Americas and was once where famed patriot and master silversmith Elias Pelletreau worked out of. Today it is a jewelry store where silversmithing is still practiced. Learn about his importance to our community as well as a bit about the history of silversmithing.
Museum Curators
Become a museum curator for the day! Get up close and personal with items from the museum's collection and figure out what their historical purpose must have been through research, context clues and group discussions.
Whaling Lessons
A gigantic part of Southampton's history involves the whaling industry. Because of this we have a really fantastic collection of whaling artifacts and ephemera as well as some fantastic pieces of whale bones.
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Because of this huge connection it was important for us to create various programs centered around the whaling industry so that students today can stay connected to our rich maritime past.
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Scrimshaw Art
Examine some real pieces of scrimshaw art and tools made from whale teeth and then create your very own art pieces.
Sewing and Knot Tying
Learn some of the basic life skills all sailors needed to know while away at sea.
Sailor Valentines
Create beautiful shell art reminiscent of the trinkets sailors would buy for loved ones back home while traveling the world.
Writing with Quill and Ink
Read whaling logs and diary entries written with quills and then try writing your own letter with a quill and ink pen.
Blubber Glove
Give our blubber glove a try and learn first hand the biological importance of whale blubber and then learn about how and why humans had a need for it too.
Morris Studio:
Camera Obscura
Take a walk through our current exhibit and see historic photos of Southampton from the Morris Studio collection. To better understand how camera worked over 100 years ago, take a step inside our camera obscura and learn about light refraction and the methods behind historic photography.
Conscience Point
Visit the "Plymouth Rock of Southampton" and see where English settlers first landed in Southampton on June 12, 1640.
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