Historic Richmond Town is a living history village and museum complex in the neighborhood of Richmond, Staten Island, in New York City. It is located near the geographical center of the island, at the junction of Richmond Road and Arthur Kill Road.[1]
It was formerly a county seat and commercial center which included the former courthouse of Richmond County, coterminous with the borough of Staten Island. The site also contains other former commercial and governmental buildings, as well as farm buildings and homes, some of which were relocated from other parts of Staten Island. Historic Richmond Town is a village comprising over 30 historic buildings and sites dating from the late 17th to the early 20th Century. Decker Farm, located about one mile from the center of Historic Richmond Town, features a farm stand and seasonal activities such as pumpkin picking.
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The creation of Richmondtown was the joint effort of many Staten Islanders, led by the vision of two local historians and preservationists: Loring McMillen and William T. Davis. Fueled by the same Depression-era passion for historic preservation which resulted in the creation of Colonial Williamsburg, these men helped create a testament to Staten Island's rich history in an era of rapid development and urban sprawl.
Established in 1958, Historic Richmond Town is a joint project of the Staten Island Historical Society, an independent nonprofit cultural organization, and the City of New York, which owns the land and the buildings and supports part of its operations with public funds from the Department of Cultural Affairs. The purpose of this museum village is to make visitors feel as if they are living in the 19th century. Visitors are able to have a first hand experience of what Historic Richmond Town once was.
Historic Richmond Town holds a lot of history dating back to the 18th century. People who lived in Richmond Town were mostly of Dutch, English, or French descent. The most common jobs were blacksmiths, shoemakers, and other types of craftsmanship. You can still visit these once worked in shops to see how they made a living back then. British troops were stationed in Richmond Town during the American Revolution.
The village area occupies 25 acres (100,000 m2) of a 100-acre (0.40 km2) site with 15 restored buildings. Anyone who comes to Historic Richmond Town has an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of a 300-year old colonial-era community. The two churches located outside the village are St. Andrew's Episcopal and St. Patrick's RC. A third church, the Reformed Dutch Church of Richmond, was demolished.
There are many exhibits to see in Historic Richmond Town. Voorlezer's House is the oldest exhibit as well as the oldest standing elementary school in the United States. The Voorlezer House had many uses over time, this building also served as a religious meeting house and a residence for people to live in. Another exhibit to see is the Dutch Colonial farmhouse which was established in 1740. The Print Shop which was established in 1821. Historic Richmond Town houses one of the oldest operating printing presses in America. Among the many structures are outstanding examples of Dutch Colonial and Greek revival architecture, such as The Stephens-Black House, The John Bennett House, The Guyon-Lake-Tysen House, The Britton Cottage, The Christopher House, the Crocheron House, the Boehm House, the Treasure House, the Meeting Center, and much more.
Visitors can walk into what were once lived in houses. These houses are fully furnished and there are daily demonstrations. Entertaining events are scheduled in every month, including county fairs, quilting classes, tavern concerts, pumpkin picking, historic tours, and a former chocolate factory. Historic Richmondtown offers pleasure and education for people of all ages, whether by merely walking around to enjoy the scenery or learning about what has happened in our past.
Richmond Town is featured prominently in the documentary A Walk Around Staten Island with David Hartman and Barry Lewis. The documentary which profiles the history and culture of Staten Island premiered on December 3, 2007 on PBS member station WNET, and can be seen in its entirety on the companion Web site [1].
Old Home Day, The Bluegrass Festival, The Summer Apprentice Program, The Richmond County Fair, Traditional Dinners, Tavern Concerts, Pumpkin Picking on the Decker Farm (Weekends in October only) and Festivals
Richmondtown can be reached via public transportation by taking the S74 Arthur Kill Road bus from the St. George Ferry Terminal. The ride from the ferry terminal takes about 30 minutes. The S54 Manor Road bus provides local service weekdays.