Historic Richmond Town

Historic Richmond Town is an open-air live museum located in the Richmondtown neighborhood in Staten Island, New York City, in the United States. It is located near the geographical center of the island, at the junction of Richmond Road and Arthur Kill Road.

It was formerly the center of a commercial town and included the former courthouse of Richmond County, which is coterminous with the borough of Staten Island. The site also contains other former commercial and governmental buildings, as well as farm buildings and homes relocated from other parts of Staten Island. Historic Richmond Town is a village comprising 27 historic buildings and sites dating from the late 17th to the early 20th Century

History

The creation of Richmondtown was the joint effort of many Staten Islanders, led by the vision of two local historians and preservationists: Loring McMillen and William T. Davis. Fueled by the same Depression-era passion for historic preservation which resulted in the creation of Colonial Williamsburg, these men helped create a testament to Staten Island's rich history in an era of rapid development and urban sprawl.

Established in 1958, Historic Richmond Town is a joint project of the Staten Island Historical Society, an independent nonprofit cultural organization, and the City of New York, which owns the land and the buildings and supports part of its operations with public funds from the Department of Cultural Affairs.The purpose of this museum village is to make visitors feel as if they are living in the 17th century. Visitors are able to have a first hand experience of what Historic Richmond Town once was.

Historic Richmond Town holds a lot of history dating back to the 1700’s. People who lived in Richmond Town were mostly of Dutch, English, or French descent. The most common jobs were blacksmiths, shoemakers, and other types of craftsmanship. You can still visit these once worked in shops to see how they made a living back then. British troops were stationed in Richmond Town during the American Revolution.

Current Setting

The village area occupies 25 acres of a convert|100|acre|km2|sing=on site with 15 restored buildings. Anyone who comes to Historic Richmondtown has an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of a 300-year old colonial-era community. In addition, this historical complex is located in a lovely natural setting, just off the Staten Island Greenbelt. The area is also home to the Parsonage, a 250-year old house now containing a five star restaurant. However, the restaurant is slated to close in late November 2006, citing financial reasons.

Exhibits

‎ There are many exhibits to see in Historic Richmond Town. Voorlezer's House is the oldest exhibit as well as the oldest standing elementary school in the United States. The Voorlezer House had many uses over time, this building also served as a religious meeting house and a residence for people to live in. Another exhibit to see is the Dutch Colonial farmhouse which was established in 1740. The Print Shop which was established in 1821. Historic Richmond Town houses one of the oldest operating printing presses in America. Among the many structures are outstanding examples of Dutch Colonial and Greek revival architecture, such as The Stephens-Black House, The John Bennett House, The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House, The Britton Cottage, The Christopher House, the Crocheron House, the Boehm House, the Treasure House, the Meeting Center, and much more.

Recreation

Walking through this town you are able to walk into what was once lived in houses. These houses are fully furnished and there are daily demonstrations. Historic Richmondtown is filled with fun filled events each and every month. From county fairs, quilting classes, tavern concerts, pumpkin picking, historic tours, and what was once a chocolate factory. Historic Richmond Town is a great place to take friends and family to for the day. Historic Richmondtown is fun and educational for people of all ages. Whether it is just walking around to enjoy the scenery or learning about what has happened in our past.

Media

Richmond Town is featured promiently in documentary "A Walk Around Staten Island with David Hartman and Barry Lewis." The documentary which profiles the history and culture of Staten Island premiered on December 3, 2007 on PBS member station WNET, and can be seen in its entirety on the companion Web site [http://www.thirteen.org/statenisland] .

Events

Old Home Day,The Bluegrass Festival,The Summer Apprentice Program,The Richmond County Fair,Dinners,Pumpkin Picking on the Decker Farm (Weekends in October only) andFestivals

ee also

*List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City

External links

* [http://www.historicrichmondtown.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.rpts.tamu.edu/pugsley/McMillen.htm Loring McMillen biography]
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthHistory&Number=424659&fpart=1&PHPSESSID= A Google Earth Tour] of Historic Richmond Town