Historic Richmond Town

In honor of Immigrant Heritage Week Historic Richmond Town is proud to share this stunningly preserved garment from our textile collection! According to donor Rosemary Eng, this shirt was made by her grandmother Lee Shee Hong, probably as a young woman. Lee Shee Hong may have brought it with her from China when immigrating to New York City in 1921. Lee Shee and her husband Chow Leong Hong operated laundries in Grant City and New Dorp. In the 1910s and 1920s, a blouse or jacket like this one was a popular style for a young woman in China, and would have been worn over trousers or a skirt. Historic Richmond Town is home to a collection of nearly 60,000 pieces, like this one. Some of which have been digitized and are available for FREE viewing on our website.

Spring has sprung and the grounds at Historic Richmond Town are open to explore and enjoy! The site’s nearly one hundred acres of manicured parkland have made a stunning backdrop to thousands of weddings and special occasions. Introducing our brand NEW and IMPROVED private event packages! Make Historic Richmond Town a part of your most treasured memories. Book today for your wedding, birthday party, family gathering or corporate meeting. Learn more:

Over the next month, come and discover the history of even more non-extant structures with our NEW outdoor exhibition- Then and Now: Buildings of Staten Island's Original County Seat, which is going up throughout the month of April. Among these invisible buildings, is a popular restaurant that stood on site at Historic Richmond Town; which was one of the first Italian restaurants on Staten Island. It was built and operated by Nicola and Antoinetta Aquilino, who came to the U....S. from Italy and settled on Staten Island in 1921. The Aquilinos constructed the one-story brick building as a grocery store sometime before 1927. In the early 1930s, it was changed to a billiard academy, and it may have been around the same time that it also became a restaurant and tavern which was later known as Aquilino's Pizzeria and Restaurant. The Aquilino family owned the house that is now Historic Richmond Town's Edwards-Barton-Aquilino House (seen in this image behind the restaurant) and lived there until 1966. Aquilino's Pizzeria was demolished that same year. Photo: Aquilino’s Pizzeria, photo by Michael Koledo, April 7, 1963. Collection of Historic Richmond Town.

TOMORROW and every Saturday in April, come and experience 19th century spring cleaning with Spring Chores n'Tours! See demonstrations of nineteenth century laundry with water warmed over an open fire, try your hand at churning butter, and watch Historical Interpreters demonstrate soap-making, with all natural ingredients mixed with lavender. You can even take out some pent up pandemic aggression with a good rug beating! Get your tickets today!

Historic Richmond Town is #OPEN offering private Guided Tours of the site's many historic structures. Visit today and discover the beauty of the winter season across the site's nearly 100 acres! And after you have strolled the scenic site, stop by the Courthouse to visit the Holiday Shop(4:30PM-9:00PM) and book your spot for Candlelight Tours! Visit our website today to discover all of the many ways you can enjoy the site and our local history this season!

The holiday season is upon us. The challenges posed by the pandemic have turned school, work, and life upside down, including travel for annual celebrations. This year, Historic Richmond Town offers Candlelight Tours that are safe, private, and contactless, while maintaining the magical atmosphere of Christmas in 19th century New York City. Groups of 6 or less from the came party or household will tour four historic structures on the Historic Richmond Town campus. Inside, cos...tumed interpreters will invite you to light the Christmas tree with a candle, to see tinsel made up-close, warm up by the open hearth where treats are baked and to hear live music in the tavern. December 12 - SOLD OUT December 19 - AVAILABLE Buy your group’s timed tickets TODAY!

Support Historic Richmond Town as you shop during the holiday season! Shop for gifts at https://qoo.ly/39m2tx to generate donations for the Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town!

Its beginning to look alot like winter! And this #throwback image gives us all of the holiday feels! The image was part of a collection of photographs and papers belonging to Historic Richmond Town's Barton family. It shows neighbor children all piled into a sled on a snowy winter day. The historic Stephens-Black House and General Store can be seen in the background. This fun and festive historic images and many others can be found in our Digital Collections Database HERE: https://qoo.ly/39mwis Happy Chanukah from Historic Richmond Town!

What 2020 needs is a #spookadelic Halloween and Historic Richmond Town is serving up some festive fun ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT! Get your tickets now for the Odd Occurrence Radio Hour! This inaugural performance of The Richmond County Field Recording Society’s podcast will harken back to the radio-noir mysteries that enthralled our grandparents in the 1940s! This evening of murder, mystery and suspense will be directed by Historic Richmond Town’s artist-in-residence Chris O’Brien, a...nd featuring actors from Staten Island’s own Ghost Light Productions. Each dramatic reading will be interspersed with festive Halloween music from MakerPark Radio - makerparkradio.nyc DJs Nutmeg ( Classical-ish with Nutmeg) and DJ Terry (host of Dirt Bag Paradise). Also, local legend and indie hero of the underworld Kevin Devine ( Kevin Devine) will grace our stage for a bone chilling and exclusive performance. Don’t forget to snag your complimentary beer from local favorites Flagship Brewery. The intrigue begins on Saturday, October 31st at 8:00PM. Get your tickets here:

Celebrate Halloween at Historic Richmond Town's Decker Farm! Wear your costume to pick that perfect pumpkin, enjoy a festive fall treat, rock out to hip Halloween tunes and snap a family photo at a farm all dressed up for All Hallow's Eve! Decker Farm, located at 435 Richmond Hill Road, will be open on Halloween from 11:00am-5:00pm Visitation is by timed entry only. Reserve your tickets HERE:

Historic Richmond Town is open on the weekends for limited-capacity guided tours for parties of 6 or less. You can easily book on our streamlined website. https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/visitor-information-co

Make the Cozy #BennettCafe Your New Space! The 1,000 square foot cafe space harkens back to a simpler time. Complete with a functioning brick oven and fireplace, this setting is sure to make a memorable shopping or dining experience! Historic Richmond Town will be hosting an open house of the historic Bennett House on November 6. Everyone who provides their contact information will be directly invited to the open house but all are welcome.... Read more about it here:

This past month, Historic Richmond Town was honored to join with Amerinda to provide new and diverse programming at two of our Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm weekends. AMERINDA is a community-based multi-arts organization that works to empower Native Americans, break down barriers, and foster intercultural understanding and appreciation for Native culture through its arts programs and services to individual artists. Special programming from AMERINDA at Decker Farm was inter...active, educational, and fun for all! Programming included a land acknowledgment and vocal performance featuring a Native hand drum, a demonstration and discussion of the contemporary Native art movement in NYC and how it has influenced other non-Native artists, and a presentation of the wide-ranging and mostly uncredited influence of Native American foods on non-Native society. Farm goers also had the opportunity to participate in a traditional Native American dance and learned about historical Native landmarks and sites in the surrounding boroughs, and the many ways Native Americans cultivated early relationships with settlers. Historic Richmond Town is proud to support AMERINDA’s mission to promote the Indigenous perspective in all its forms as part of our commitment to telling a more inclusive story of human history on Staten Island and provide opportunities for the public to explore diversity of the American experience.

Historic Richmond Town is pleased to thank all of the friendly and helpful volunteers who have helped to make this season's Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm possible! It's not too late to join our team! Sign up to volunteer at Decker Farm NOW! Shifts are available for HALLOWEEN. Visit our WEBSITE to learn more! ... #Volunteer #TeamWork #MakesTheDreamWork #HelpingHands #DeckerFarm #HistoricRichmondTown #SweataWeatha #FallFun #HumptyDumptyHadaGreatFall #AppleCider #TeamPumpkinSpice #FarmLife #PumpkinPicking #Halloween #PumpkinPie #Harvest #OctoberVibes #FallVibes

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In tribute, Historic Richmond Town has planted a Garden of Hope to honor all those who have battled breast cancer. When strolling through Historic Richmond Town’s Main Village site this October take a moment to visit the #GardenofHope planted on the front steps of the Third County Courthouse.

Back by popular demand! Historic Richmond Town is pleased to partner with New York Adventure Club for another dive into the nautical history of Staten Island. Following the success of the first webinar in August, Jeffrey D. Cavorley presents a second installment of Ship Graveyards of Staten Island. Cavorley, historian and HRT blacksmith, uncovers the stories of vessels that have come to rest in the waterways around Staten Island. In-depth research and penetrating photography takes the viewers on and below decks of abandoned hulks. Don’t miss this virtual event! Register for this WEBINAR here:

We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through December 31, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how... Target’s donation will be divided up. Find out more about Target Circle here: See more

SAT. OCT. 31, 8-11pm, Historic Richmond Town Presents a Halloween event for the ages inspired by the old timey radio suspense dramas of yore! The evening features two of Historic Richmond Town’s incredibly talented partner programs, Ghost Tales with Chris O’Brien and Ghost Light Productions, who are joining forces for the first time for a ghastly performance of multidimensional readings of famed and thrilling radio dramas from the 1940s to bring you a spookadelic performance of art and storytelling through a menagerie of silhouettes and shadows! Tkts are $20 and include two drinks and popcorn. This event will be hosted at Historic Richmond Town's Main Village site, located at 441 Clarke Avenue at the General Store. Be sure to reserve your tickets online ahead of time here:

This year, Historic Richmond Town offers some Halloween-themed family fun at our Decker Farm! Enjoy all of your favorite farm-tastic activities PLUS some fun and spooky Halloween extras! Come dressed in costume for that perfect all Hallows Eve photo op! Watch an expert pumpkin carver ply her trade! Explore the farmyard and participate in old time Halloween craft demonstrations that are fun and educational too! Entry is by timed ticketing only! For more information to plan your visit check out:

Historic Richmond Town is pleased to thank all of the friendly and knowledgeable volunteers who have helped to make this season's Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm possible! It's not too late to join our team! Sign up to volunteer at Decker Farm NOW! Shifts are available for this weekend. Read more about volunteering at Historic Richmond Town here:

Historic Richmond Town is proud to join the Merchant's House Museum for a Virtual Parlor Chat at the Morris-Jumel Mansion exploring the unexplained and paranormal at historic houses across New York City!In this seasonal edition of MJM's Virtual Parlor Chats, join Programs Manager Megan Byrnes as she discusses paranormal site activity and programming with guests Luke Boyd, Director of Education and Public Programs at Historic Richmond Town, and Emily Hill-Wright, Director of Operations at the Merchant's House. This Zoom lecture is free with online reservation. Register for the Parlor Chat Here: