The Sea Cliff Village Museum dedicated The Charles E. Ransom Room at The Sea Cliff Village Museum on April 25th 2004 with a champagne and desert buffet.

Sponsors of the
Republication of
"Gaslight and Gingerbread"

Packard Cabinetry of Sea Cliff
Kiwanis Club of North Shore
Sea Cliff Health Center
Steven J. Ruden, D.D.S. PC
Richard B. Arnold Real Estate
San Souci of Sea Cliff
William Hussey General Contractor
Chill-Tech Services
Emigrant Savings bank
Tina & Paul Marchese
Good of the Village Association

For more about the
Village of Sea Cliff
http://www.seacliff.org/

The Sea Cliff Village Museum

The Sea Cliff Village Museum, founded in 1979, is sponsored by the Village of Sea Cliff and the Friends of Sea Cliff Village Museum. It operates under the direction of a board of trustees and a director / curator appointed by the Sea Cliff Village Board, with valuable assistance provided by the Friends organization.

The museum's function is to collect, preserve, interpret and display material relating to the unique historical background of Sea Cliff, focusing primarily on the village's Victorian and 20th century heritage. In addition to the maintenance of permanent displays, the museum mounts two special exhibits each year. Guided tours for school classes and other groups are available by reservation. Special lectures, slide shows and day trips provide the museum with an opportunity to reach a wider community.

The Collections
H. 0. Korten Photograph Collection
An extensive photograph collection includes 287 glass plate negatives by H.O. Korten, a Sea Cliff resident and well-known Long Island photographer. Prints from these, together with over 900 postcards, provide a valuable social history of Sea Cliff at the turn of the century.

Victorian Kitchen
A period kitchen features old-fashioned appliances and equipment, recreating the warmth, as well as the work, of everyday life at the turn of the century.

Costume Collection
The development of a significant collection of apparel spanning the late Victorian era to the 1930's is in process. The museum actively seeks period bridal gowns, dresses, suits and accessories and carefully preserves them for use in conjunction with exhibits.

1890's Cottage Model
The Connor Cottage, a scale model of a Sea Cliff home which belonged to the late Edward C. Knieriem, was a gift from his estate to the museum. The actual house, located on the corner of 17th and Central Park, still exists as a private home.

Friends of Sea Cliff Village Museum
Friends of the Sea Cliff Museum was formed in 1989 to provide financial support through modest annual dues. Friends play an essential role in the museum activities: they serve as guides, help prepare exhibits, assist with publicity, catalog acquisitions and maintain collections, under the direction of the curator. New members are always welcome. Annual Memberships are $15 for Individuals and $15 for Families. Friends of Sea Cliff Village Museum, P. O. Box 72, Sea Cliff, NY 11579

Sea Cliff Village History
Sea Cliff dates from 1871, when a Methodist organization purchased land for summertime revival meetings. Families from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens leased small plots, lived in rented tents and attended services at the 5000 seat Tabernacle. As interest in revivalism faded, hotels and boardinghouses began catering to vacationers arriving by train and steamboat. By the turn of the century Sea Cliff was a major East Coast resort. After world War I the automobile encouraged more distant vacations and the local hostelries gradually closed. Year-round residences were built even before the village was incorporated in 1883. By 1900 there were 1500 permanent inhabitants. Many late 19th century Victorian houses have survived, giving the present day village its special character.

Directions to Sea Cliff Village Museum
Take Long Island Expressway (495) to exit 39 N (Glen Cove Road - North). Continue north on Glen Cove Road, cross 25 A (Northern Blvd.), then turn left at the third traffic light, go under railroad bridge. At the stop sign turn right onto Glen Cove Avenue. At the sixth traffic light turn left onto Sea Cliff Avenue. Continue on Sea Cliff Avenue, turn right on Central Avenue, make an immediate right onto Summit Avenue. The museum is on the right side of Summit Avenue in a brick building. Parking is available on the street. The Sea Cliff Village Museum is located at 95 Tenth Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York 11579

(516) 671-0090
(516) 671-2530 (fax)
SeaCliffMuseum@AOL.com

Open Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 PM or by special appointment. Suggested donation: $1