Stories aren’t just entertainment from a book or a film or a podcast or streamed source. They’re the way we hold and tell our history — of who we are and how we are. At the Shelter Island History Museum, stories are the masterful tool and mighty generation-spanning thread that provides this small but strong community with the clarity of where it’s been, where it is and where it might be going.
Recently, they made a big change to their structure, moving from a historical society to official museum status. “In December 2024 we had our name legally changed by the New York State Education Department, with an amended charter,” says Nanette Lawrenson, executive director of SIHM. “It demonstrates our commitment to being and operating like a true museum and following all the protocols of museums, and we take this very seriously, like the procedures for addressing archival documents or museum collections.”
Open year-round, the Shelter Island History Museum is committed to preserving the stories and history of the island, and beyond that, the East End. (Photo credit: Doug Young)
That status change became a reality in no small part thanks to the state-of-the-art renovations and addition made several years ago to the 18th century Havens House, the historical building and property that houses SIHM and all its documentation and for which SIHM is ensuring a future safe from the ravages of time.
“We opened this new wing of the building in 2019 and the building is lovely, gorgeous and designed by [award-winning architect] Bill Pedersen. But what happens inside the building programmatically is really what we are about,” says Lawrenson. “It’s really the essence of what we do, which is not just preserving documents and preserving artifacts and artwork, it’s sharing it.”
Lawrenson and her small but dedicated staff and army of volunteers have accomplished a lot over the 14 years she’s been at the helm, seeing the not-for-profit through a multitude of changes, milestones and growth that keep the Island engaged and grounded all year long.
While SIHM is open year-round with engaging programming for both Islanders and visitors alike, in the summer their action-packed calendar of events truly makes this institution come alive. This season’s programming includes one of their two annual large exhibitions (on view now: “Witness the American Revolution,” tackling that pivotal moment in U.S. history as seen through the lens of the Havens family, which runs through December). There’s also the beloved Saturday weekly Havens Farmers Market, chock-a-block with local food and drink purveyors, craftspeople and live music; a children’s acting camp in conjunction with Brooklyn Acting Lab; yearly summer historical house tours; and their annual gala fundraiser (this year’s was a traditional clam bake put on by local expert Ray Congdon — a culinary endeavor chosen specifically for its deep traditional community ties). Additionally, there’s educational collaborations with the Shelter Island School, like the new three-dimensional map of the island created by students using a 3D printer; ongoing digital exhibitions; speakers, like the recent talk by journalist Bill Bleyer on the Revolutionary War-era Culper Spy Ring, as well as this month’s dive into the Battle of Long Island by Noel Gish; performances; and the vital Living History Project.
After 14 years as the museum’s executive director, Nanette Lawrenson continues to work with her small team to help visitors understand the past while sharing history for the future. (Photo credit: Doug Young)
For the latter, SIHM started videoing and recording the stories and memories of Islanders back in 2017 about life here over the decades, realizing the precious resource that is oral traditions. Indeed, several of the subjects have passed on since, and their interviews preserve vital information on the ways of Island life. This has become especially important as the advent of digital photography and cloud storage has made physical photos of people and places more and more scarce.
“I think we have roughly about 35 interviews now. There are multiple parts to it. It’s setting up the interview, it’s the actual videoing the interview, and then the editing process. And you can probably imagine the editing is the time-consuming piece,” says Lawrenson.
The commitment to preserving Island, and East End, history is no small responsibility and a bit of a sacred oath, with the baton passed from generation to generation since SIHM was formed in 1922. It moved to its current location at 16 South Ferry Road in the 1960s, operating out of the historic Havens House, built in 1743 by William Havens.
“We believe in helping people understand history through the visual arts and performing arts and sharing history for their future. History centers are not just about items and information from the 1600s and 1700s,” says Lawrenson. “It’s also about what we’re doing today that will be informative, impactful and interesting in 30, 50, 100 years from now. That’s probably one of the most important pieces: What are we doing today that’s so important that we need to carry it forward so we can share it in the future?”
The Shelter Island History Museum is located at 16 S. Ferry Road in Shelter Island, 631-749-0025, shelterislandhistorical.org. Summer hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is free but donations are always welcome — or you can visit their excellent gift shop, which supports the mission of SIHM.
