Headquartered in a historic 18th Century farmhouse known as the Kingsland Homestead, The Queens Historical Society presents exhibits and tours depicting the history of this particular farm. Perhaps more importantly, it also functions as the central repository of the 300-year history of the borough. The society publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers walking tours, lectures, slide shows and exhibitions. Its library and archive of primary and secondary source material is open by appointment.
A well-preserved barn from the mid-eighteenth century, the Wortendyke Barn Museum is a hidden gem in Park Ridge. Displaying the heritage and history of Dutch-type farming, the museum features the barn building, made of regional wood, and exhibits highlighting the agrarian development of the county. You can visit the museum without charge during regular hours, or arrange for a tour by appointment.
The United Nations Art Collection is a world-class collection of fantastic modern and fine art that has been donated to the United Nations. The exhibits include beautiful paintings, murals, stained-glass windows, mosaics, sculptures, and much more. Some of the more notable pieces are Non Violence, Swords to Plowshares, and the Japanese Peace Bell. The United Nations Art Gallery frequently hosts exhibitions and showcases, tickets for which have to be booked in advance.
Edward Salyer House is located in a picturesque residential landscape in Pearl River, NY. It is one of the oldest houses in the area and was registered under the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Built during the 1760's; you can see prominent French Colonial architecture in the construction of this two storied structure. The structure is divided into five bays and is made of wooden frames and has scale shaped designs on its exterior. The interiors is highlighted with a wooden staircase and many patterns of windows; especially sash windows and federal style fireplaces. They have all the original furnishings intact and has a parlor and kitchen on the first floor with three bedrooms on the second floor. The house has a large dutch door in the front which is unique for structures during that period. This architectural wonder is currently open to the public as a house museum.
John Ballantine House was the residence of Jeanette and John Holme Ballantine, owner of a local brewery business. Built around 1885, the brick wall structure is an example of Dutch architecture. Converted into a museum, the house has a dining room, a bed room, a billiard room, a library and a parlor. All the rooms have been restored to represent the era in which they were built. Some other rooms have been made into galleries with artifacts that show the changing lifestyle of the people during the 18th Century. The house is part of the Newark Museum showcasing the decorative arts used in the cultural and social life of the county during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Built around the theme of covering the lesser-known field of spycraft, the Spyscape is a one-of-a-kind museum. Visitors to the Spyscape can now enjoy sitting in interactive interrogation rooms, walking through laser tunnels and even receiving an analysis of the kind of spy work they are meant to do based on their profile. Other activities that one can indulge in the museum include browsing through spy artifacts and learning about historical stories like how the Enigma Code was cracked and about the security breach at the CIA website by a teenage hacker. If you are in the mood to experience something different, then a visit to the immersive Spyscape will certainly not let you down.