What is Historic Richmond Town?

HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN IS A 501(C)3 EDUCATIONAL NON-PROFIT
ALSO KNOWN AS THE STATEN ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

OUR MISSION

Historic Richmond Town interprets and restores a living history village, operates a historical museum, and collects and preserves material culture to inspire engagement with and understanding of the diverse histories of Staten Island.

**LIVING HISTORY |** We provide an array of creative and interpretive programs and workshops designed to immerse the public in centuries of local history.

**EDUCATION |** Visitors get a hands-on experience through our school programs, Open Village experience, guided tours, and a rich array of public programs.

**COLLECTION |** We are home to more than 100,000 artifacts, photographs, and archival collections from different time periods; a wide variety of which is on display in the Historical Museum

**NATURE |** We are dedicated to protecting the natural environment for the public to enjoy year round, including caring for and playing host to a wide variety of native plants and animals.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION

We are committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in all our activities. We believe building an inclusive and equitable environment is an ongoing, active process that requires constant and deliberate attention. We strive to build truly accessible spaces, a culture of diversity of voice and representation, and equity for all.

ORGANIZATION HISTORY

The Staten Island Historical Society (the “Society”) was founded in 1856 and sixty-six years later merged with the Staten Island Antiquarian Society. The Society’s headquarters were located at the 1677 Perine House at 1476 Richmond Road.

In 1932 the Society elected its first “custodian” curator, Loring McMillen, who championed the opening of the Historical Museum three years later in the former County Clerk & Surrogate’s Office in Richmondtown, where it still operates today. The historic site hosted Robert Moses in 1950, who became interested in making it into a National Monument but four years later Governor Dewey signed the “Richmondtown Bill,” enabling the City Commissioner of Parks to enter into an agreement with the Society for restoration of the entire Richmondtown village.

By 1958 a formal contract between the Society and the City was signed making the Society one of the few Cultural Institution Groups (“CIG”) of New York City. The CIGs operate cultural non-profits on City property and receive operating support from the City. The CIG contract includes 100 acres of land abutting LaTourette Park that includes Richmond Creek, which includes the 35-acre historic-core historic building village.

While employed at the Society, McMillen organized and received a charter for Richmondtown Restoration, Inc. (“Richmondtown Restoration”), which operated as the Society’s Historic Richmond Town site operation arm. By 1967 the Society had hired the first paid employee as McMillen became the full-time director.

The 1970s brought a legal battle between Richmondtown Restoration and the Society regarding funding. During this time, an effort to reroute all public vehicle traffic around Historic Richmond Town was occurring. The legal troubles ended with the dissolution of the operational entity and a political dead end in the traffic issue. Around the same time the Department of Cultural Affairs was established and took over the operation contract between the City and the Society. In 1979 the Richmond County Fair recommenced annual operation on the grounds, hosted by the Society.

In the 1990s the Society started doing business as the Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town and moved completely away from Richmondtown Restoration but it wasn’t until 2008 when the official business name became, Historic Richmond Town (“HRT”). Between 2010 and 2016 HRT started to host special events such as food festivals.

Today, besides the main campus of Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue, the organization operates three satellite properties on Staten Island: Decker Farm (an 11-acre active farm) at 435 Richmond Hill Road, the Judge Jacob Tysen House at 355 Fillmore Street, and Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House at 1476 Richmond Road.

Historic Richmond Town is New York City’s living history village, historical museum and arboretum.

**COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |** We host three major fundraising events a year, each designed to connect with the community and enrich the ongoing telling of new and diverse histories of today’s visitors.

**PRESERVATION & RESTORATION** | We strive to re-create spaces that are both true to history and promote diversity, representation, and equity for all.

**THE NATIVE ENCAMPMENT |** Constructed out of natural materials from the Historic Richmond Town campus and the FreshKills Park, the site features a wigwam and several other structures that depict the life of Native people in Staten Island during post-European contact.

**HISTORIC STRUCTURES |** The historic houses and structures on site date back as far as the 1660s and not only provide the perfect backdrop to host our unique programming, but also serve as an authentic platform to share the diverse histories of the individuals who lived and worked the

Historic Richmond Town's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Historic Richmond Town Staff & Board of Directors

Jessica B. Phillips
Chief Executive Officer

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

CEO of Historic Richmond Town - Jessica B. Phillips
Borough President - Vito Fossella
Mayor of New York City - Eric Adams
Dept. of Cultural Affairs - Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner
Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Historic House Trust -
Giulietta Fiore, Executive Director
Dept. of Parks & Recreation - Lynda Ricciardone, Borough Commissioner
Dept. of Parks & Recreation Designee - Joseph A. Ferlazzo
Women’s Auxiliary President - Caroline Esposito

HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael Molinaro - President
Zenia Ruby Conti, Psy.D. - Vice President
Mario J. Crescenzo, Jr.. - Treasurer
Sharifa Hampton - Assistant Treasurer
Elizabeth Greene - Secretary
Kathryn Baxter
Steve R. Cisternas, D.D.S.
Laura Gentile
Jerome Goldman
Jonathan Goldberg
Sharifa Hampton
Biju Koshy, Esq.
Jacqueline Masseo
Thomas Murphy