Staten Island Museum: What to Know Before You Go

The Staten Island Museum is one of the oldest cultural institutions in Staten Island: since 1881 it has explored the connection between natural science, art, and history.

It sits in a beautiful historic building at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, where you can also visit other museums, a botanical garden, and the gorgeous Chinese Scholar's Garden.

What to see at the Staten Island Museum

Walking through it gives you a deeper sense of the role of the NYC borough of Staten Island, often overlooked by tourists, maybe because it's the only one not connected to the subway system.

The permanent collections at the Staten Island Museum explore the archaeological, environmental, and historical past of this New York borough.

It also has a collection of paintings and other artworks spanning from the island's original tribes to the present day.

The painting collection focuses on Staten Island landscapes and portraits of its residents.

There's also an extensive collection devoted to natural science, with more than half a million specimens of all kinds: zoology, botany, entomology, paleontology, and archaeology.

On top of that, there's a library specializing in books and historical archives related to Staten Island, an important reference source for anyone interested in the island's past.

The museum puts on interesting traveling exhibitions and activities for kids. You can check them out at the link.

More attractions

If you came over on the orange ferry, chasing those spectacular shots of the Statue of Liberty, take the chance to discover what to see in Staten Island, including Historic Richmond Town, a museum where you can experience American history firsthand.

Want to visit more New York museums? I've put together a tidy guide at the link 😉.

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Address:
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A. Staten Island

Getting there:
Take the S40 bus from the Ferry Terminal.

Prices:
Adults US$ 8 / Students and 65+ US$ 5 / Ages 2 to 12: 2

Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
Closed on national holidays

You can find more information about the museum on its official website.