Southold

Historical Museum

Southold Winterfest returns on Saturday, February 21, and Southold Historical Museum welcomes the community to the Maple Lane Campus for a full day of seasonal fun, live music, hands-on activities, and more.

Throughout the day, visitors can browse handmade goods from the Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild in the barn and warm up with free hot chocolate. Enjoy a snow machine play area courtesy of East End Pool King, tasty offerings from North Fork Flour Shoppe, and live music by the Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam in the Ann Currie-Bell House. Historic building tours will be available, and children can take part in a paper airplane craft in the 1812 Bayview Schoolhouse with Mary Korpi.

Be sure to stop by the Prince Building at 54325 Main Road, where the Treasure Exchange and Museum Gift Shop will be open all day.

Winterfest at Maple Lane Campus is free and open to all—make it one of your stops during this popular community celebration.

Lecture: “Stella Prince…Her Story Continues”

Join author Mary Korpi as she explores the history of Horton Point Lighthouse through the eyes of its sole female lighthouse keeper at 1:00 PM on Thursday Feb 26, 2026, at Southold Historical Museum’s Maple Lane Campus, 55200 Main Rd., Southold.

Korpi’s book, The Lady Lighthouse Keeper, is a fictionalized narrative about the only woman who served as a lighthouse keeper at Horton Point Lighthouse in Southold, NY. Stella Prince (1867 – 1928) resided at the lighthouse for over half her life, longer than anyone else.

At its heart, The Lady Lighthouse Keeper offers an intimate and relatable look at family life at a slower pace, set against the demanding task of maintaining a lighthouse. Through Stella, we gain insight into life on the North Fork in the late 1800s from a woman’s perspective.

Free to attend. Please RSVP.

In Colonial Southold, the kitchen garden was an essential part of daily life. Families relied on the vegetables and herbs grown there for nourishment, remedies, and everyday household needs. Today, the Colonial Herb Garden behind the 1700s Thomas Moore House at Southold Historical Museum’s Maple Lane Campus reflects the types of plants an early household might have cultivated.

As we prepare for the spring season, we are seeking volunteers to assist in the Colonial Herb Garden and Museum grounds. Help is needed with planting, weeding, general garden care, and light landscape upkeep. Whether you are an experienced gardener or simply enjoy working outdoors, your time and effort will help keep the campus looking its best.

To volunteer, please contact Anakin at 631-765-5500, ext. 5 or a.mignone@southoldhistorical.org

Southold Historical Museum is gearing up for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! This summer, explore special exhibits highlighting Southold’s role in the Revolutionary War, enjoy a patriotic online art exhibit and sale featuring local artists, and experience our “Revolutionary” Living History Day.

We’re proud to be part of the Suffolk County 250th Celebration and are listed in the official Suffolk County 250th Passport Book, available now through Barnes and Noble Online, Amazon, Lulu.com, and as a free download.

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Visit us at 54325 Main Road, Southold, to receive your official Suffolk County 250th passport stamp!

Archive Collection-FAQs

Did you know that Southold Historical Museum holds an extensive archive of information. Perhaps you have questions about some of the collections we carry if you are doing research for a special project, such as ‘What time periods does the archival collection cover?’ or ‘What types of genealogies does the archive hold?’

You can find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions on our website, and learn how you can request access to begin your research.

Feb. 21

Southold Winterfest

Feb. 26

Lecture: “Stella Prince… Her Story Continues”

March 26

Lecture: “Three Sheets to the Wind”

April 16

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

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.