For visitors who come to Long Island for its occasional rustic appeal, the Old Bethpage Village Restoration is not to be missed. Closed between December 31 and April 1 of 2010, this is an attraction to be added to your springtime itinerary, and the crisp air is brilliant in the fall. Located in Plainview near the Suffolk/Nassau County borders, 51 historic buildings and 7 reconstructions populate this interactive village situated on 209 acres of scenic Long Island land, which is easily accessible from the Long Island Expressway via LIE Exit 48, Round Swamp Road.
A tribute to the hardy Long Islanders who called the land mass home before the advent of electricity and running water, the restoration project brings visitors back to the mid-19th century. Created in 1963 on the Powell property, Nassau County's acquisition of the land was part of a plan to save the island from the encroaching development of the area post WWII.
A fully created village, this restoration was not actually a livable place, but rather, acres of farmland. The original historic buildings that pepper the lands were moved from their previous locations, the first having been Plainview's Historic Manetto Hill Methodist Church. Dating back to 1857, the church was painstakingly transferred to the site, then carefully restored, a pattern that followed for the remaining 50 attractions. Many of the structures boast authentic furnishings, hardware, shingles, glass, and other antique items, and each of the buildings were hand-selected for their individual relevances to Long Island community history.
Notable buildings, other than the church, include the Schenck House -- built in 1730 and therefore one of the oldest Dutch farmhouses still standing in these states -- and the Benjamin House, which was built in 1829 by a Congregational minister, farmer, and pastor to the Shinnecock and Poosepatuck tribes of Long Island.
One of the newer attractions at the site is the Restoration Farm, which was established in 2007 by the private business Restoration Farmers, "who employ sustainable, organic agricultural principles," according to the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreations, and Museums. Produce grown on the farm is available for purchase in the village parking lot from Saturdays from noon to 2 PM from June 20 to September.
A dog run has also been opened on these grounds, with separated playing fields for large and small dogs. In the spirit of all things green and restoration, water that's provided for the dogs are collected and filtered through a rainwater system, and is easily accessed by the property's entrance. The hours are the same as that of the village, so will reopen April 1.
516-572-8400
Open: Hours as of November 1, 2009, are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday - Sunday.
Museum Admission: $10, adults; $7, children 5 - 12 (under 5 are free); and $7, seniors, volunteer firefighters.
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