Southold

Historical Museum

Proceeds benefit the Museum and its mission to preserve and share Southold’s history.

Purchase tickets online (small service fee applies), or stop by the Museum offices at 54325 Main Rd., Southold, Monday–Friday, 10 AM–2 PM.

Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the event.

Bring a friend and come hungry—it’s a tasty way to support local history!

Author Cynthia Barrett, drawing from her book Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions, will present an engaging talk on Thursday, March 26 at 1:00 PM at Southold Historical Museum’s Maple Lane Campus (55200 Main Road, Southold).

Barrett will also discuss her own family’s strong maritime heritage—from a father who served as a naval officer during World War II to a whaling great-grandfather from Cold Spring Harbor—and how these family stories helped inspire her research.

Admission is free. Please RSVP to attend.

Southold Historical Museum on WLIW-FM

Darren St. George of Southold Historical Museum recently sat down with WLIW-FM’s Gianna Volpe on the station’s Heart of the East End program to discuss upcoming events and initiatives at the Museum.

The discussion included a heartfelt acknowledgment of the Museum’s volunteers, whose commitment brings the Museum’s programs and events to life.

Additional topics included internship opportunities, upcoming lectures, and the Museum’s role in commemorating the area’s Revolutionary era history as part of this year’s nationwide 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The in-studio interview is available to watch on YouTube.

Southold Historical Museum is now accepting applications for two student internships: the Bainbridge Internship and the Gardiner Young Scholar Program.

These hands-on opportunities give students a behind-the-scenes look at how the Museum preserves and shares Southold’s history. Each internship requires 100 hours of service and includes a $1,700 stipend.

Open to high school students entering grade 10 and up. Bainbridge applicants must reside in Southold Town. One application covers both programs.

Applications are due May 29, 2026, with selections announced by the end of June.

Click below to learn more and download the application

Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 PM at Southold Historical Museum’s Maple Lane Campus (55200 Main Road, Southold) for a special illustrated presentation via live Zoom with Sally Snowman—the last official lighthouse keeper in the United States—and Jeremy D’Entremont, historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

This engaging program highlights women lighthouse keepers of the northeastern United States, beginning with Hannah Thomas of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the first female keeper on the continent. The presentation will also feature Kate Walker of Robbins Reef in New York Harbor, Kate Moore of Fayerweather Island in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Ida Lewis of Lime Rock in Newport, Rhode Island. Sally Snowman will reflect on her 20 years as keeper of Boston Light, America’s oldest light station, and her retirement, which marked the end of more than three centuries of federally appointed lighthouse keepers.

Admission is free. Please RSVP to attend.

Education & Programming Liaison Opportunity

Southold Historical Museum is seeking a part-time Education & Programming Liaison
to help coordinate public programs, educational initiatives, and volunteer engagement.
This role works closely with staff, volunteers, and community partners to support the
Museum’s mission.

The position is two to three days per week, primarily in the office.
Full details are available on our website.

March 26

Lecture: “Three Sheets to the Wind”

April 16

Lecture: “Women Who Kept the Lights, 1776-2023”

April 22

Burger and A Beer

May 30

Pickleball Tournament

Morning & Afternoon

Your gracious support allows Southold Historical Museum to offer many free events throughout the year. Thank you.

Southold Historical Museum programs are made possible by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.