named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
1888 Oyster Sloop Priscilla
National Historic Landmark vessel offering public sails and charters during the summer season on the Great South Bay, docked at Oakdale’s Snapper Inn.
Elward Smith III Library
Onsite research library with over 3,000 maritime-related books and archival materials, available by appointment for scholarly and public research.
Frank F. Penney Boat Shop
Volunteer-driven boat building and restoration program housed in a historic 1900-era laundry building relocated to the museum grounds.
Lectures at the Museum
Seasonal lecture series featuring historians and authors on topics such as the American Revolution, maritime archaeology, and local maritime heritage; free for members, $10 for non-members.
Seasonal Exhibits
Temporary exhibits in the Main Gallery highlighting maritime arts, historic events, and unique artifacts, often launched with community openings.
Wrecks, Rescues and Guiding Lights
Interactive exhibit in the North Gallery allowing visitors to explore Long Island's maritime history, including lighthouses, over 250 shipwrecks, and the U.S. Life-Saving Service, with gaming elements like cannon firing and sailboat navigation.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Historic Site Public Programming 2 activities
- Community engagement and commemorative programmingHosts public programs related to the nation's 250th anniversary, including themed scavenger hunts, commemorative passport stamps, lectures, and educational events such as "The American Revolution at Sea," which includes hands-on activities for children.
- Public educational programming and lecturesOffers public lectures, Winter Lecture Series, and talks on Long Island maritime history, including topics related to the American Revolution and British occupation. Events are offered at low or no cost, with recordings available to members via digital archives.
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Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 2 activities
- Operation of historic buildings as interpretive exhibitsOperates the 1890 Bayman's Cottage, the William Rudolph Oyster House (a National Historic Landmark), and other historic structures as museum exhibits that interpret 19th-century maritime life and industries such as oyster cultivation.
- Preservation and restoration of historic watercraft and maritime artifactsCollects, restores, preserves, and exhibits historic watercraft, ship models, marine tools, decoys, artwork, maps, charts, books, and wildlife displays associated with Long Island's maritime heritage. Maintenance and restoration projects are carried out by staff and skilled volunteers, including in the Frank F. Penney Boat Shop and William Rudolph Oyster House.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Accessibility initiativesOffers reduced admission of $3.00 for EBT cardholders (up to four individuals per card) and provides free admission to supporting members and members of the Winter Lecture Series.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Facility and collection maintenanceConducts ongoing maintenance and restoration of historically significant buildings and museum collections through a combination of full-time and part-time staff and volunteers.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Hands-on educational programs and campsProvides hands-on educational programs, summer camps, Mid Winter and Spring Break programs, Story Time by the Bay, and workshops such as watercolor and safe boating classes for children and adults.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Interactive and thematic museum exhibitsOperates permanent and temporary exhibits including an interactive shipwreck display, a recreation of "Washington Crossing the Delaware," and rotating digital exhibits on historically marginalized groups. The museum also hosts maritime-themed temporary exhibits in the Main Gallery.
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
- Public sails and charters on historic vesselsOffers public sails and charters on the 1888 Oyster Sloop Priscilla, a National Historic Landmark, during the summer season on the Great South Bay.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Research and archival accessMaintains and provides access to a research library with over 3,000 maritime-related books and archival materials, available by appointment. Also digitizes media archives and provides member access to digital collections.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$551K
Contributions & grants$271K49%
Program service revenue$90K16%
Investment income$54K10%
Other revenue$137K
expenses
Total expenses$523K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$305K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.10M
Cash$103K
Investments$769K
Liabilities$29K
Net assets$1.07M
Liquid reserves20.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +28.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERESA BLITMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $87K |
board members · 12
- BRANDT RISING — SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN
- BRIAN MCCARTHY — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTINE MILLER — TRUSTEE
- ELIZABETH ARINK — FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN
- GRAHAM SCAIFE — TRUSTEE
- HOWARD STUMME — TRUSTEE
- JOHN WAHLBERG — TREASURER
- KRIS ALMSKOG — TRUSTEE
- LAURA SMITH — TRUSTEE
- MARK DEANGELIS — TRUSTEE
- MIKE EAGAN — CHAIRMAN
- PHIL LINKER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Bank of America Partner — Provides corporate volunteer teams to support maintenance and restoration projects at the museum.
- Blue Star Families Partner — Collaborates to offer free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museums program.
- Council of American Maritime Museums Network — Participates in the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) network, offering reciprocal free admission to over 80 maritime museums across North America for family and lifetime members.
- Department of Defense Government — Partner in the Blue Star Museums program, enabling free admission for active-duty military personnel and families.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Provides corporate volunteer teams to support maintenance and restoration projects at the museum.
- Idle Hour Deli Partner — Provides coffee and pastries for the museum's lecture events.
- National Endowment for the Arts Partner — Participates in the Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration offering free admission to military families.
- Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Provided funding through a 250th Commemoration Grant to support special programming.
- Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Funder — Provided funding through their 250th Commemoration Grant to support special programming.
- Snapper Inn Partner — Partners with the Snapper Inn for docking and public sail operations of the 1888 Oyster Sloop Priscilla.
- Stony Brook University Partner — Provides expert lecturers from its faculty for the museum's public lecture series.
- Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Historically supported museum staff and maintenance costs and collaborated with the Museum Board on development planning.
- Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Partnered with the Museum's Board to support staff and maintenance costs while the board focused on fundraising and collection development.
- Suffolk County Parks Department Partner — Works in partnership with the museum on operations and programming.
- The Home Depot Partner — Donated materials used to build an interactive exhibit.
- Three Village Historical Society Partner — Collaborates with the museum through shared programming, as evidenced by a lecturer from the organization presenting on the Culper Spy Ring.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Preservationmethodology: community-engaged_preservationBy involving volunteers in the maintenance and restoration of maritime artifacts and infrastructure under staff supervision, the museum fosters public stewardship and deepens educational impact, because hands-on participation strengthens community connection to cultural heritage.
- Integrated Maritime-Natural Educationmethodology: integrated_maritime-natural_educationBy connecting maritime history with natural history, the museum helps visitors understand the interdependence of ecological and cultural systems in coastal Long Island, because integrated storytelling enhances relevance and deepens environmental and historical literacy.
- Multifaceted Maritime Storytellingmethodology: multifaceted_maritime_storytellingBy linking diverse aspects of maritime life—such as boat building, shipwrecks, and shellfish harvesting—to broader regional and national narratives, the museum increases public engagement because varied entry points make maritime heritage accessible and meaningful to wider audiences.
- Sliding-Scale Access for Inclusivitymethodology: sliding_scale_accessBy offering discounted admission to EBT cardholders through the Museums for All initiative, the museum reduces financial barriers and increases access for low-income families, because affordability is a prerequisite for equitable public engagement with cultural institutions.
- Volunteer-Led Educational Engagementmethodology: volunteer_led_educationBy training and deploying volunteer docents to lead guided tours, the museum leverages personal passion and localized knowledge to enhance visitor learning, because peer-led education increases relatability and engagement across age groups.