Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

08/31/2026

Cow Neck Historical Society Volunteers Gave More Than 400 Hours in July!

The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society extends a heartfelt thank-you to its dedicated volunteers. They contributed more than 400 hours of service in July, much of it in preparing for and supporting the Society’s Open House on July 25.

Whether they gave 20 hours or two hours, every volunteer made a difference. Their time and talents help keep the Society’s historic properties, collections and programs thriving.

The Historical Society could not function without volunteers. They help maintain the Sands-Willets and Dodge houses, catalog and preserve collections, lead tours, conduct research, plan exhibitions and to ensure that events run smoothly. Their contributions help bring local history to life for visitors and the community. Interested in becoming a Historical Society volunteer? Community members with a variety of interests and skills are encouraged to participate. To learn more, email [email protected] and share your interests. www.cowneck.org

08/28/2026

Tour our 300 Year Old Dutch Barn at Sands-Willets House!
Saturday, August 29 at 10 am sharp
336 Port Washington Blvd. (Corner of Homewood Place)

Join us tomorrow for a detailed tour of our c. 1690 Dutch Barn and learn about farm tools, shell fishing tools, wooden snow sleds, horse-drawn sleighs, and see a crazy assortment of tools for almost every task. We'll meet at the side yard of the Sands-Willets House and walk back to the barn together. Tours last about an hour. No reservations necessary for individuals. Rain or shine. Tour is $10 pp; $5 for children > 10 (cash preferred). Members FREE. https://www.cowneck.org/sands-barn-tours

08/21/2026

Join Us for TWO House Tours this Weekend! No reservations necessary for individuals. Rain or shine:

Sands-Willet House Tour
336 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington, NY 11050
Saturday, August 22 at 10:30 a.m. sharp
Join us as we explore how both the Sands and the Willets families lived in our historic home! During our 1-hour docent-led tour, you'll learn about their Colonial and post-Colonial roots, and see how the Sands women spent their days cooking in the beehive oven and on the hearth, and much, much more. Visit the period rooms on the Willets side of the house with displays in each room. Also, we have now reopened our Colonial and Victorian bedrooms, the latter chockablock filled with ladies' accessories of the day.

Thomas Dodge Homestead Tour
58 Harbor Road, Port Washington, NY
Sunday, August 23 at 2 pm sharp
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.

Tours: $10 pp; $5 for children > 10. Members FREE. Visit www.cowneck.org for more info

08/12/2026

Mill Pond Historic District Walking Tours
Saturday, August 15 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 alongside 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. Walking Tours: $10 pp; $5 for children > 10 (cash preferred). Members FREE.

Don’t miss out! Upcoming 2026 historical tours schedule: https://www.cowneck.org/cnphs-2026-tours

07/23/2026

Come explore the Sands-Willets House! Built circa 1735, this home holds centuries of history—including the stories of the Sands family who actively fought in the Revolutionary War. Step back in time to 1690 by exploring our historic Dutch Colonial barn, packed with antique farming and shell-fishing tools!
📍 Location: 336 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington, NY
🕒 Time: 12-4pm, Saturday, July 25
🚪 Free admission.
🚗 Free parking at Vincent Smith School
Come walk through history!

07/22/2026

Join Us in Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary 
at Historic Sands-Willets House
Saturday, July 25 • 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
336 Port Washington Blvd. • Free Admission!

Join us as we honor the Revolutionary-era legacy of the Sands family and the role the Cow Neck Peninsula played in the fight for independence. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the circa 1735 Sands home, where the seven sons of John Sands III were born and raised, becoming Patriots during the American Revolution. At the July 25 event, knowledgeable docents will be on hand, sharing stories of colonial life. Visitors can also explore the Society’s circa 1690s Dutch Colonial barn, which houses antique farming and shell-fishing implements. Also, as visitors explore the property, Revolutionary War re-enactors and period music will help recreate the spirit of the era! Rain or shine. Free admission! Free parking at Vincent Smith School. https://www.cowneck.org/celebrate-america-250

07/18/2026

Bicentennial quilt made by the Port Washington Women's Center & presented to the CNPHS in 1976. Come & see it displayed & celebrate the seven Sands patriots at our Open House on July 25th from noon to 4 pm. Free admission.

07/18/2026

Due to the unhealthy air quality today, July 18, this morning's Mill Pond Walking tour is cancelled. Join us for our next Mill Pond Walking tour on August 15 at 10 am.

What today is a picturesque and serene Mill Pond was once a bustling center of cultural, economic, and social activity. Join us for a historic walk around the pond to discover the first school, the first church, an early hotel, and characters who lived in this tight-knit community.

07/15/2026

All are Welcome!
Port Washington in 360° – Where History Surrounds You
Thursday, July 16 • 7 to 8:30 p.m.
at Port Washington Public Library, 1 Library Drive, Port Washington, NY in Lapham Meeting Room

Join us at the Port Washington Public Library as our Historical Society's president, Chris Bain, takes you on a virtual journey to dozens of spots around Port Washington, one 360-degree view at a time! Discover unique perspectives and locations from across town — some surprisingly new; others now vanished — and hear the stories and history behind each location. Please register at https://portwashington.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-chris-bain-event-105121

07/04/2026

4th July 1891

From Eliza Willets diary, while home from Swarthmore.
Sunnycroft was the beautiful old house across the Boulevard, torn down in 2017.

"At 4.30 we went over to Sunnycroft & Adele & I played tennis on their new court. Had tea on the piazza. Uncle Joe read the “Declaration of Independence” & then Cousin Sherwood had a few fireworks which greatly delighted little Willets whom I held in my lap. After having signed our names & heard Cousin S. read the names whom have signed the different years we came home. The first time my name appeared I was only 7 years old. "