Snug Harbor Cultural Center - Staten Island, NY - Unique Historical and Art Center

In 1801, Robert Richard Randall decided to develop a facility for aged and retired sailors. There were several legal disputes, but the facility opened in 1833 named Sailor's Snug Harbor. Originally, there was only one building, which soon expanded to three - all built in the Greek Revival style of architecture. Nearing the 1900s, the complex had over 50 buildings on its 83 acres of land. The buildings included a dairy, bakery, a self-sustaining farm, and a hospital. During this time, roughly 1,000 retired seamen inhabited the complex.

The goal of the center is to preserve maritime history and to encourage the arts. This mission is accomplished by fostering a strong sense of community among the heritage of the area. In 1972, several of the old Greek Revival buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the best ways to experience the complex, now called the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, is by taking the guided tour. The tours are run Monday - Saturday from 11am - 3:30pm during the summertime. These guided tours require reservations and a minimum of 15 guests. Reservation includes a 50% deposit. Interested parties can contact 718-425-3556 for more information.

Snug Harbor offers a variety of education programs for youth. These include horticulture, performing arts, history, and visual arts. These classes require reservation as there is a 25 student capacity per class. The classes begin at 10am. There is a minimum $125 reservation. The architecture classes are designed for several age groups. Younger students will be interested in the scavenger hunt, which allows students to discover styles and items ranging from obelisks to frescos. Older students will investigate the 28 different buildings that represent Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Second Empire and Italianate architectural styles.

The Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art is the center for visual arts. It was first opened in 1977. Every month the Newhouse Center presents events and exhibits in its 15,000square foot galleries. In February of 2010 the center is holding the Legacy of Lincoln exhibition. This will highlight the Lincoln's presidency through political cartoons, lectures, the president's speeches, and screenings of films on Lincoln. Past exhibits have included exhibitions on the Feminist Art movement, Coney Island sideshow banner art, and more. The Center has also begun a program in concert with the Italian government which will allow the Center to loan antiquities dating from Pompeii to the Renaissance, as well as Baroque art from the Uffizi (an art gallery located in Florence, Italy).

Another of the exhibits is the John A. Noble Maritime Collection. Noble and his son created a large collection of paintings, portraits, and sketches within a houseboat that they converted into a studio. The collection holds pieces that highlight maritime and shoreline culture.

In 1977, the Center founded its Botanical Gardens. The Center now cultivates several gardens that represent a variety of historical periods and styles. On the first weekend in May, the Gardens hold their annual plant sale, as well as the orchid show. Some of the more prominent gardens are the Chinese Scholar's Garden and the Tuscan Garden. The Chinese Scholar's Garden is based on traditional Chinese garden principles. It features several walkways, eight pavilions, and is enclosed by walls. The Center offers several presentations to orient patrons to the style and purpose of the Chinese Garden. The Garden is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 4pm. The Garden can be reserved for weddings.