Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

06/01/2026

Please join us at the Port Washington Public Library on June 11 at 3 pm!

The area we now call Port Washington was occupied by the British for seven years during the Revolutionary War. Local families suffered immense hardship: they were forced to quarter enemy troops, had their children pressed into service, and even endured pirate attacks. Some Cow Neck Patriots bravely fought for American freedom while others assisted the revolutionary cause in secret – and some yet remained loyal to the Crown. These stories are explored in Cow Neck in the Revolution, presented in collaboration with the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society in celebration of 250 years of American independence. On display in the History Center Annex through December 2026. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, June 11 at 3pm.

05/21/2026

Rain or shine!
Thomas Dodge Homestead Tour
Sunday, May 24 at 2 pm sharp
58 Harbor Road, Port Washington, NY

Join us as we step back in history for a docent-led tour of the Thomas Dodge Homestead (c. 1721). This home is one of the oldest extant properties on Long Island, where seven generations of the Dodge family lived. Little has changed since Thomas Dodge I settled in Cow Neck, migrating from Block Island in 1718. See first-hand! No reservations necessary for individuals.

Dodge Homestead Tours: $10 pp; $5 for children > 10. Cash preferred. Members FREE!

Upcoming 2026 Dodge Homestead Tour Dates:
Sundays, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25
https://www.cowneck.org/dodge-homestead-house-tours

05/13/2026

New! Stroll through History with us on our first Mill Pond Walking Tour of 2026 this Saturday! May 16 at 10 a.m. sharp

Gather in the sitting area behind the Model Yacht Club, across from the Dodge House, at the head of the Mill Pond...

What today is a picturesque and serene historic Mill Pond was once a bustling center of cultural, economic, and social activity in Port Washington. Join us Saturday morning for a walk around our pond to discover the first school, the first church, an early hotel, and the characters who lived in this tight-knit community. No reservations are necessary. In case of inclement weather, please check our https://www.cowneck.org/mill-pond-walking-tour.

Docent-led Tours: $10 pp; $5 for children > 10. Cash preferred.
CNPHS members, strollers, and friendly dogs free.

04/29/2026

Let the Tours Begin!!!
Historic Walking Tours of Manhasset Bay
Saturday, May 2 & Sunday, May 3 at 11 a.m. sharp
Gather at Port Washington Town Dock's Red Tug Boat

Join us as we step back in history with our knowledgeable docents. Starting at the Town Dock's tug boat, we will walk the shoreline while learning the fascinating history of early Port Washington. Topics include the livelihoods that helped Port develop into the town you know today including: shell fishing, sand mining, aviation, tidal mills, restaurants, hotels & tourism, schools, and much more. See Port Washington as you've never seen it before! Tours last approx. 60 minutes with bench stops along the way. No reservations are necessary. In case of inclement weather, please check our website.

Walking Tours: $10 pp; $5 for children > 10. Strollers & friendly dogs free. https://www.cowneck.org/2024-manhasset-bay-walking-tour

04/20/2026

Celebrate your loved ones on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day by honoring them with a custom brick!

This everlasting gift will become part of the grounds surrounding our Colonial Garden at the Sands-Willets House. It’s easy to arrange. Simply download the form from our website and print your inscription text in the boxes. You’ll get 3 lines of text with 14 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

This is a unique gift, and suitable for any occasion you’d like to commemorate, be it a congratulatory brick, a memorial brick, or even an expression of your love for your animals! Bricks are $50 each, payable by check or credit card on the website. Contact us with any questions at 516-365-9074, [email protected] or visit our website at www.cowneck.org

03/23/2026

Celebrating "Women's History Month" with Port's Prominent Suffragist Who Helped Pave the Way for All Women: Mariana Wright Chapman, 1843-1907

Local resident and prominent New York Quaker suffragist, Mariana Wright Chapman, was President of the New York State Suffrage Association from 1897-1902, when she often corresponded with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Carrie Chapman Catt. She was a founder of the Political Equality League, addressing the Albany Legislature and lobbying Congress in Washington, DC. Governor Theodore Roosevelt called her to Albany when he recommended that women receive representation.

Our community was active in their support of the suffragist movement from early on. Starting with the formation of the local branch of the Political Equality League in 1895 and followed by the North Hempstead Equal Suffrage League in 1913, it soon became a popular undertaking. Sands Point women who moved in other circles became influential on a national, state, island-wide, and community level. More local Port Washingtonians got involved with them in different organizations and led the way for women's rights in the town. Learn all about the Suffragist Movement in Port Washington here: https://www.cowneck.org/celebrating-our-local-suffragists

03/16/2026

Getting Ready for St. Patrick’s Day!
St. Patrick's Day cards became popular in the early 1900s, a time often referred to as “The Golden Age of Postcards.” It was also a time of increasing Irish-American pride as they and other immigrant groups began to celebrate their heritage.

This is a postcard from the Historical Society’s extensive archives. It was sent to Marie Dodge on St. Patrick's Day in 1909 from Port Washington to the simple address “town.” Presumably, the post office knew where to deliver it! Marie was the last of the family to live in the Dodge Homestead at 58 Harbor Road by the Mill Pond and had a large postcard collection.

02/24/2026

Climb Onboard for a Sleigh Ride!
This circa 1910 wooden sleigh, formerly owned by the Bayles family (drug store branch of the family), is pictured here in front of the Methodist Church (in the same spot where the Public Library is located today), and is about to head down lower Main Street. At other snowy times, it was often taken for rides down Richards and Luquer Roads.

Currently, this sleigh is on display in the Dutch Barn (circa 1690) at the Sands-Willets House, home of the CNPHS. Stay tuned for our next Dutch Barn tour and see this sled in person!

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! A brilliant man once sung: All You Need is Love! (sung in somewhat simpler times)

02/14/2026