Add another awesome museum to your family's list of places to visit in NYC! After four years of construction, the Staten Island Museum is finally opening the doors of its newly renovated space at Snug Harbor. To celebrate the grand opening, families are invited to a free festival to explore the inaugural exhibits, take in live performances, grab snacks from food trucks and enjoy kid-friendly fun like face painting and crafts.
Stop in on Saturday, September 19 from 10am–5pm or on Sunday, Sept 20 from 12–5pm, and catch a free shuttle from the ferry from 9am–5pm on Saturday (meet at the bottom of the west staircase near the ballpark). While you're in the area, you can even check out the nearby Staten Island Children's Museum, one of the best museums for children in NYC. Read up on the 5 best bets for families over grand opening weekend, and don't miss out on more fairs and festivals coming up this season.
1. Check out cool exhibits. Wander through the historic building and check out "Remember the Mastodon: A Richmond County Savings Foundation Exhibition," which teaches youngsters about extinction with fossil samples, lost bird species and a full-size replica of a Mastodon coming through the wall. Other installations feature art from around the world, Staten Island–inspired works, and historical artifacts from the borough.
2. Enjoy live performances. All day on Saturday, live music and dance presentations will keep visitors entertained. Catch a high-energy performance from Native American group, Red Storm Drum and Dance Troupe (11am), music from The Swagophones (12:15pm), The Original Mixed Company quartet (1:30pm), surf rock group Captain Ahab & the Sea Crackens (2:45pm) and jug band, Wahoo Skiffle Crazies (4pm).
3. See a real FDNY Fireboat. Watch as a historic barge shoots out water in a fun display on the waterfront on Saturday at 3pm
4. Go on a nature walk. On Sunday, spend some time exploring the Snug Harbor grounds with the museum's Curator of Science, Will Lenihan. Families will see 19th-century buildings and get a look at the surrounding environment.
5. Stop by the science tent. Budding biologists, geologists and archaeologists will love checking out turtle shells and animal skulls, learning about dinosaurs, getting hands-on with minerals and rocks and conducting cool experiments with museum educators on Sunday.
Photograph: Courtesy Staten Island Museum
The Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor is located in Building A, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. The museum's regular hours will be Monday through Friday, 11am–5pm; Saturdays 10am–5pm and Sundays 12–5pm. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. With paid admission, families can check out the new space and visit the museum's St. George location on the same day. Admission is free for all from 12–2pm on Sneak Peek Tuesdays.