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Snug Harbor Cultural Center Review

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Snug Harbor Cultural Center

Address: 1000 Richmond Terr., between Snug Harbor Rd. and Tyson Ave., Livingston, Staten Island, NY, 10301 | Map It
Phone: 718/448-2500
www.snug-harbor.org

Category: Historic Districts/Sites
Location: Staten Island

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Fodor's Review:

Once part of a sprawling farm, this 83-acre community is now a popular spot to see maritime art, frolic in the Children's Museum,or take a stroll through lush gardens.

Made up of 26 mostly restored historic buildings, Snug Harbor's center is a row of mid-19th-century Greek Revival temples. Main Hall—the oldest building on the property—is home to the Eleanor Proske Visitors Center ($3, including Newhouse Center), which has exhibits on art and Snug Harbor's history.The adjacent Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art (718/448-2500 $3, including visitor center) shows multidisciplinary videos, mixed media, and performances. Next door at the Noble Maritime Collection (718/447-6490 www.noblemaritime.org $5), an old seaman's dormitory is now a museum of ocean-inspired artwork.

The Staten Island Children's Museum (718/273-2060. www.statenislandkids.org. $5. School year, Tues.-Fri. noon-5, weekends 10-5; in summer until 8 on Thurs.) has five galleries with hands-on exhibitions introducing such topics as insects, great explorations, and storytelling. Portia's Playhouse, an interactive children's theater, invites youngsters to step up to the stage and try on costumes. Ladder 11 is a thrill for firefighter fans.

Spread over the cultural center grounds is the Staten Island Botanical Garden (718/273-8200. www.sibg.org. Free; $5 for Chinese Garden and Secret Garden. Daily dawn-dusk; Chinese Garden and Secret Garden Apr.-Sept., Tues.-Sun. 10-5; Oct.-Mar., Tues.-Sun. noon-4), which includes an orchid collection, 9/11 memorial, 20-acre wetland, Chinese Scholar's Garden, and a sensory garden with fragrant, touchable flowers and a tinkling waterfall. Children love the Connie Gretz Secret Garden with its castle and maze among the flowers.

From the Staten Island Ferry terminal, take the S40 bus 2 mi (about 7 minutes) to the Snug Harbor Road stop. Or, grab a car service at the ferry terminal. (The ride should cost you about $5.)

Cost: $3; gardens and galleries combined admission $6; Cultural Center grounds free
Open: Tues.-Sun. 10-5; Noble Maritime Thurs.-Sun. 10-5; grounds dawn-dusk every day except major holidays

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