Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages

The Long Island Museum spans nine acres with three main buildings displaying American art, regional history, and a comprehensive collection of horse-drawn carriages. The complex showcases how American art and local history intersect through both permanent and rotating exhibitions.

Ward Melville founded the institution in 1939 as the Suffolk Museum and gradually expanded it into a larger cultural center. The building additions and collection growth reflected growing interest in preserving American art traditions and local heritage.

The museum displays works by American artists with a strong focus on regional creators and their contributions to art history. Visitors can trace how local artistic movements developed and changed across different periods.

The museum comprises several separate buildings spread across the grounds, so plan time to move between them. It helps to decide which collections interest you most to make the most of your visit.

The carriage collection contains around 200 vehicles from various European countries including Bavaria, Italy, France, and England. This assemblage reveals how transportation design varied significantly across different European cultures and regions.

Location: Stony Brook

Inception: 1939

Founders: Ward Melville

Website: http://longislandmuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 40.91190,-73.14170

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:02