New York City is a hub of museums, from history to science and world-class art. And, sure, a trip there to see centuries of global art at the MET or have a mid-day Night at the Museum experience at the Museum of Natural History makes for a memorable adventure. However, hopping an hours-long LIRR train isn’t the only route to getting cultured.
The Hamptons also has its share of museums. While some are seasonal, many more are open year-round, providing a chance to become a tourist in your region in the dead of winter or as April showers prepare us to enjoy May flowers. In these parts, you can find a museum aimed at the youngest Island explorers, another honoring our natural beauty and a fair share of noteworthy art.
These Hamptons museums are open year-round and worth a visit.

Parents and grandparents, bookmark this one for school breaks. The Children’s Museum of the East End makes learning so fun that kiddos won’t know class is in session. Sail the seven seas while dressed as a pirate and get a lesson on wind power from a windmill that uses air to lift objects. Weather permitting, even the nine-hole mini golf course provides a physics lesson. And, when tiny tykes have more energy than your living room can handle, an indoor playground with soft play offers a merciful alternative.
Ben Stiller/Larry Daley, eat your heart out. While you won’t find a T-Rex statue chasing bones after dark at the South Fork History Museum, you will find plenty to delight guests of all ages. There’s a marine touch tank with sea stars and crabs. Butterfly and wildflower gardens that’ll put a spring in your step in the dead of winter. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but occasional closures for school groups happen — call ahead.
Guild Hall, 158 Main St, East Hampton, 631-324-0806

Another summer hotspot, this Hamptons institution doesn’t close its doors after Labor Day Weekend. Exhibits occur 12 months a year and celebrate regional artists of all stages and mediums, including painting, video and photography. Find still-life paintings from Linda Reville Eisenberg until Jan. 26. An installation by Joel Mesler and more than four decades’ worth of works inspired by the water from Mary Heilmann are on tap for 2025. Also a haven for the performing arts, the Guild Hall stage has hosted the likes of Liza Minnelli and the New York City Ballet.
Halsey House & Garden, 249 S Main St #4826, Southampton, 631-283-2494
Thomas Halsey, Sr. and his family built the homestead when they settled on this property in the 1640s. The home you see today was likely built by Thomas Halsey, Jr., his son, about four decades later in 1683. Regardless, the shingled exterior, large chimney, and, during warmer months, a tasteful literal and figurative tasteful array of herbs and flowers make this spot a Hamptons oasis. The gardens and grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset, with interior tours available by appointment by calling 631-283-2494 x 500.
Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, 631-283-2118

This museum offers landmarks and milestones. On the landmark front, the two (recently restored) Roy Lichtenstein sculptures Tokyo I & II greet guests as they travel around the bend on Montauk Highway into Water Mill. And the annual midsummer gala, held each July, is a staple on the Hamptons summer social calendar. However, the museum that heavily highlights Long Island artists of past and present is throughout the year. Its collection includes more than 3,000 paintings, sculptures, works on paper and mixed media that’ll take you from 19th-century landscapes that benefited from artists’ access to the Hamptons’ legendary light to 20th and 21st-century sculptures (including Lichtenstein’s, which were created in 1994 and took up residence at Parrish in 2014).
Home Sweet Home Museum, 14 James Ln, East Hampton, 631-324-0713
A charming saltbox home built at the turn of the 18th century, this home epitomizes the era. Peruse the house and see a paneled parlor and period furniture. Outdoors, lush gardens and greenery in the spring and summer are a multi-sensory experience — fragrant and beautiful. The brick road leading to the house feels timeless and romantic. The museum is open daily from May to September, on weekends in October and November and by appointment from December through April.
Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Ln, Southampton, 631-283-0967
Southampton Arts Center prioritizes using the arts to build community. It’s a place to find your people and spark creativity. Programming includes drawing workshops and paint ‘n sips. Exhibits, like the East End Collect8, slated for Feb. 1 to May 4, center the region and its artists.