A Visit to the Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages

That is a very cool museum - will have to check it out next time I am up in the area. One day you should head SE and check out the Mercer Museum in Doylestown - its another of these interesting local museums, but the collection is surprisingly huge.

Years ago, visiting my wife's family in NW Missouri, we got to cross the branch on a local farm to explore a 19th century barn, no longer accessible except by foot, that was filled with old wagons and carriages of all types, covered in dust, a museum in waiting. This one on Long Island must have been the twin, except all restored. I still wonder what was to become of that barn's contents. Long Island is a long ways from New Mexico, but I would love to visit this museum. DRB

About 25 years ago I attended an off-road horse carriage race and new carriage show in New Jersey. Basking Ridge area I think, definitely estate country with space for the race through woods, meadow, and creeks. New carriages, mostly made in Europe I recall, were on a grassy knoll for sale costing more than most automobiles. Point is, there still was a demand for extremely fine craftsmanship on functional carriages. A very few still manufactured for the elite "Carriage Trade."

While on a trip around the British isles on our 25 anniversary 28 years ago. We did exactly as you describe. We talked with the local chamber of commerce in each town to find interesting small museums and highlights and places to stay. I was interested in woodworking and my spouse in anything needlework related. What a treasure trove of small places. As soon as the people found you were interested they would go out of their way to talk about what they loved. Some places had weird hours, Tues. afternoons from 1:00 to 1:30 Etc. or simply a phone number if you were interested to touring the museum. We saw how air Balloon baskets were made. Toured a knitting frame museum complete with history back to hand knitting the Queen's socks, lace making,watched swill basket making. One of the B&B we stayed at the owner was restoring a pony carriage for his grandson. One museum Docent, a 85 year old woman, even offered to give us a felting needle off a knitting machine on display. We graciously declined but were enthralled with the elderly ladies recollections of her childhood remembering s. Great trip recommend it highly. Friendly patient people that simply stop and wait until the idiot tourists from the states realize they are driving on the wrong side of the road.:0)

What a great find! I just emailed the inlaws (in Glen Head) about this. Next time my wife and I come back to New York we'll be heading to check this place out. I'm also hoping to check out your retail location as well.

Cheers

Love the shadowbox of brushes. The top row includes squirrel hair lettering quills, sword stripers, and banding brushes. All of these are still in use today by sign painters, pinstripers, and decorative painters who still practice these old techniques.

thanks for posting
Charles