Sailors' Snug Harbor

New York, United States

Sailors' Snug Harbor is a collection of architecturally significant 19th-century buildings on Staten Island. The Harbor was founded as a retirement home for sailors after Captain Robert Richard Randall bequeathed funds for that purpose upon his 1801 death. Snug Harbor opened in 1833 as a sailors' retirement home located within what is now Building C, and additional structures were built on the grounds in later years. The buildings became a cultural center after the sailors' home moved away in 1976. The grounds and buildings are operated by Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, a nonprofit, Smithsonian-affiliated organization.

Sailors' Snug Harbor includes 26 Greek Revival, Beaux Arts, Italianate and Victorian style buildings. Among those are 'Temple Row', five interlocking Greek Revival buildings labeled A through E. The buildings are set in extensive, landscaped grounds, surrounded by the 19th-century cast-iron fence. The grounds also include a chapel and a sailors' cemetery. The cultural center includes the Staten Island Botanical Garden, the Staten Island Children's Museum, the Staten Island Museum, the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, and the Noble Maritime Collection, as well as the Art Lab and the Music Hall.

The site is considered Staten Island's 'crown jewel' and 'an incomparable remnant of New York's 19th-century seafaring past.'

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Details

Founded: 1833
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in United States

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Annie S (4 months ago)
This place is so amazing. I got to see ancient China without even traveling to China. The tickets are pretty cheap, it’s $5 per adult and $4 for seniors. Even the botanical was so pretty. There was a lot of great views to check out and plenty of pictures you can take. The New York Chinese Scholar garden was the best. I was bummed the harbor eats wasn’t open yet. But this is a good place to check out scenery with the elders. Oh did I mention they also have a little pond for the fishes.
Brandon E (5 months ago)
Came here all the way from Manhattan on Saturday 08/31 after seeing a video on Instagram raving over the Japanese Friendship garden, and was incredibly disappointed. The garden wasn't anything too special. The grounds were very small. There were some interesting paths and architecture, but the whole thing was not much bigger than a couple of subruan backyards. The worst part was the fact that the cultural center was holding another event at the time I visited, and rave music was blasting with a huge police presence, making this the least tranquil place possible. Overall, i don't think this worth making the trip out to for most people, definietly not tourists. Plenty of better places to see in central park, botanical gardens etc.
Micah Mills (5 months ago)
In my Hungerford days, I first worked one day here and had a tour of the museum about ships and what this place is about. ⛵⚓??️ This time I came here in groups of two from JCC to learn about painting in an art lab gallery and school. ? ???️?‍??‍? The art class took about 2 hours because we ate lunch there. ??I don't know how much this place has changed but I'm pretty sure from experience, it stood well in time.? I seen a few people walk around and jog, mostly with pets. ??‍? This place is close to my house, usually 8 minutes away. ? I might want to come back here to give myself more of an experience. ??
The Romneyc (5 months ago)
Beautiful garden: a delightful place to spend a day. It's best to visit early to explore the entire garden. The entrance was confusing, as it was right next to the exit, which can be easy to miss.
Fazzix Lock (7 months ago)
I recently visited the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden and was extremely disappointed with my experience. The grounds were poorly maintained, with overgrown plants and litter scattered throughout the garden areas. Several exhibits were closed without any notice or explanation, which was frustrating. The staff seemed indifferent and unhelpful when asked for assistance or information. Overall, the visit felt like a waste of time and money. I would not recommend visiting this place based on my recent experience.
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