About the Museum
New York City played a key role in the American Revolution, but after 250 years of urban development (and a massive fire set by the occupying British), only a handful of sites remain. The Old Stone House, a key landmark in the Battle of Long Island, lasted until a fire destroyed it in 1891. Volunteers working with the Parks Department excavated the ruins and rebuilt a faithful replica which now houses interpretive exhibitions about the battle, the revolution, and life in colonial New York.
What You Will See
A common stop on the history trail for school field trips, the Old Stone House is home to one of the most thorough and informative exhibitions about New York's role in the Revolution in the city. But beyond that, the house hosts contemporary works by local artists and maintains an active garden. The organization hosts a consistent calendar of events, ranging from concerts and tours to rotating exhibitions and lectures. Come for the history but watch the calendar for exciting community events.
Why You Should Go
Purists may head to one of the other historic homes dating to the colonial period in New York rather than the (faithfully) rebuilt Old Stone House. But none of these remaining homes played as direct a role in the active conflict of the revolution as the Old Stone House. This is the spot where 400 Maryland volunteers engaged with British forces numbering nearly 2,000 to protect the rest of Washington's Army as it retreated from the failed Battle of Brooklyn. The house may not be original, but this is a place of significant history.
