The Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a 209-acre (0.85 km2) recreated living museum village in Old Bethpage, New York.[1] The village opened in 1970 with dozens of historic structures that had been saved from demolition by Nassau County.[2] Costumed actors provide demonstrations of 19th century life. Major funding cuts by the county in the early 1990s led to reduced availability and increasing deterioration. It is the site of the annual Long Island Fair.
The village came into existence in 1963, when Nassau County acquired the Powell property, a 165-acre (0.67 km2) farm located on the Nassau-Suffolk border. According to notes written on the county's 1959 master plan, the site originally was planned to become the Nassau County Zoo.
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There are currently 51 preserved and seven reconstructed buildings arranged to simulate a typical mid-19th century Long Island farming village.[1] Only twenty of the buildings are open to the public.[2]
The Powell Farmhouse is the only building that was originally located at the site before it was purchased by the county. The Manetto Hill Methodist Church from Plainview was the first building moved to the site. Layton's Store sells candy while the Noon Inn is a working tavern which sells birch beer and pretzels. The Schenck House is a 1730 Dutch farmhouse. The Bach Blacksmith Shop from Hicksville is used to repair and create all the ironworks used in the village.[3]
During the summer months, there are a number of weekend events including Civil War re-enactments and holiday events such as the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.[4] The Long Island Fair has been held at the site since the village opened.[3] The fair includes a series of vintage baseball games, played with the mid-19th century rules as well as craft sales and demonstrations of 19th century crafts and occupations. In recent years, there has been a small summer camp organized for local children in the village.
A small private sustainable organic farm was organized on 7 acres (2.8 ha) of the village in 2007. It sells its produce at a farm stand and through a CSA.[1]
In February, 2009, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi proposed closing all county parks including Old Bethpage in order to reduce the county deficit. There was a petition against this proposal, which claimed that 35,000 students visit the village every year.