Upcoming Events

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Famous Long Island Shipwrecks Lecture

Wednesday, November 5

11am – 12:30pm

Set sail through centuries of maritime history in this captivating lecture by historian, author, and retired Newsday reporter Bill Bleyer. Explore some of Long Island’s most dramatic and tragic shipwrecks, from the Dutch vessel Prins Maurits, lost while bringing colonists to the New World, to the British warship HMS Culloden, wrecked off Montauk during the American Revolution. Learn about the doomed immigrant ships Mexico and Bristol in the 1830s, the fiery destruction of the Lexington—the worst disaster in Long Island Sound history—and the wartime sinking of the USS San Diego during World War I. The program concludes with the mysterious loss of the tugboat Gwendoline Steers in a 1962 Winter storm. This lecture offers a compelling look at how these maritime tragedies shaped the region’s seafaring legacy.

Voices of Valor: Stories from the Next Generation (Free)

Saturday, November 8

12pm – 1:30pm

Join us for a powerful and heartfelt program that brings history to life through the voices of those who know it best—the children of Southampton’s World War II servicemen and women. As part of the Homefront to Battlefront: Southampton During WWII exhibit, this event offers a rare opportunity to hear deeply personal stories that have been passed down through generations.

Artifacts of Honor: A Veterans Day Display

Tuesday, November 11

12pm – 2pm

Join the Southampton History Museum this Veterans Day for a special display honoring the men and women who have served our nation. Artifacts of Honor showcases a collection of military memorabilia, personal items, and literature that tell the stories of local veterans and the broader history of American service. From uniforms and medals to letters and photographs, these objects preserve the legacy of sacrifice, courage, and duty across generations.

“Fall In”: WWII Basic Training Experience

Tuesday, November 11

12:15pm – 12:45pm

Fall in, recruits! Step back in time and experience what life was like for young Americans training to serve in World War II. In this immersive, hands-on program, you’ll take part in a simulated WWII Drill and Ceremonies guided by museum staff in period uniforms. Can you keep up with the fast-paced training like new recruits did in the 1940s? Learn how to march in formation and follow drill commands. Along the way, you’ll discover how teamwork, discipline, and determination helped prepare thousands of young people for life in the military during one of the most important times in world history.

Uncovering the Past: Archaeology at Sylvester Manor (Free)

Thursday, November 20

2:30pm – 4pm

Explore how archaeology sheds new light on the contributions and experiences of Black and Indigenous communities at historic Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island over the past four hundred years. Supported by funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, graduate students from the University of Massachusetts Boston will share how archaeological discoveries help us better understand how people of African, European, and Native descent interacted, adapted, and transformed the world around them—creating a complex and interconnected history that still shapes our lives today. Join us to learn how the soil beneath our feet inspires a deeper understanding of our collective history.

Exhibit Reception – Homefront to Battlefront:

Southampton during WWII

Friday, December 5

4:30pm – 6:15pm

Join us for a special reception celebrating the Southampton History Museum’s exhibit Homefront to Battlefront: Southampton during WWII on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM. This event honors the numerous local individuals who played a vital role in World War II—both on the Homefront and the battlefield.

Long Island During the
American Revolution

Wednesday, December 17

1pm – 2:30pm

Discover Long Island’s pivotal—and often overlooked—role in the American Revolution in this enlightening lecture by author and historian Bill Bleyer. Learn about the Battle of Long Island, the largest single-day engagement of the war and a devastating defeat that nearly ended the fight for independence in 1776. Bleyer explores the harsh realities of British occupation, which transformed Long Island into a strategic military stronghold and brought years of hardship to its residents. From 1776 until the war’s end in 1783, Long Island remained under British control, making it one of the last areas occupied before the British withdrawal. This compelling talk sheds light on the local impact of a global conflict and the resilience of Long Islanders during a defining chapter in American history.

Learn & Explore

With Love From the SHM ❤️
Main Street Redux

Did you know that Main Street is both exactly the same as it has always been and yet is completely different at the same time?

We’re back at Main Street this week with more postcards spanning decades—some showing horse-drawn buggies on unpaved roads, others capturing early motorcars that changed everything about how the village moved and sounded.

Read the full about this and all of our postcards in our latest With Love From the SHM post, now live on Facebook, Instagram. To see all the postcards from this post and others we’ve posted in the past visit our website.

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Southampton History Museum

17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton, NY 11968

(631) 283-2494 | southamptonhistory.org

lmizzi@southamptonhistory.org