Gala Honors ‘William K. Vanderbilt II: A Force of Nature’
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s 2023 Gala will honor William K. Vanderbilt II, his passion for the oceans and the natural world, and his contributions to the people of Long Island. The event, set for Saturday, July 15, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, includes cocktails, dinner, and dancing.
William K. Vanderbilt II: A Force of Nature will feature cocktails at 6:00 pm in the Mansion Courtyard, and dinner and dancing to live music beginning at 7:30 in the Celebration Tent.
Tickets $250 | Cocktail Attire | RSVP by July 7, 2023
The evening is a tribute to the man who generously shared his passion for the oceans and the natural world with the people of Long Island.
As the Museum honors his legacy and promotes citizen science, it will continue to incorporate contemporary issues in marine life, animal welfare, and ecology into its STEM and natural-history education programs. This modern direction complements and expands on the current use of his natural-history collection.
Vanderbilt was perhaps proudest to be able to share the specimens he collected during his ocean-going global travels. He strongly desired to educate others about the wonders of nature and fascinating, far-away cultures. In so doing, Vanderbilt assumed the role of public educator. Using his personal experiences and his vast collections, he created the first museum on Long Island.
Contributions to this year’s fundraiser enable the Museum to continue its ongoing education efforts and to support its K-12 and lifelong learning programs, lectures, and workshops.
CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!
To complement the celebration, guests at the gala will experience the role art serves in societal discussions about conservation. Guests are invited to view the Museum’s first outdoor exhibition, Wrought Taxonomies, installed on the estate grounds. Wendy Klemperer, a nationally renowned artist, is exhibiting large-scale sculptures that depict her lifelong fascination with animals and nature.
Vanderbilt Wine Supports Education, Preservation
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum has partnered with Old York Cellars to create a special selection of wines – your purchase will support the Museum’s preservation efforts and education programs.
Eagle’s Nest, the waterfront estate of William K. Vanderbilt II, is the home of the Vanderbilt Museum and Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium.
Help us preserve this vital piece of local and national history. STEM education programs are based on Vanderbilt’s marine, natural history, and cultural-artifact collections. Educational planetarium offerings are provided to more than 25,000 schoolchildren each year. Please purchase wine today and support our mission.
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‘Laser Taylor Swift’ Extended to September
Showings of the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium’s wildly popular new show, Laser Taylor Swift, have been extended through Sunday, September 3 – every day (Tuesday through Sunday) at 4:00 pm. If you can’t score tickets to the Eras tour, Laser Taylor Swift is the next best thing!
With more than 200 million records sold, a shelf full of Grammys, and an army of fans, Taylor Swift is an inspiration for generations. This dynamic show takes her biggest hits and brings them to life in dazzling laser light.
Tickets: $18. (Free for Museum members.)
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Setlist:
You Need To Calm Down
Love Story
Anti-Hero Exile
Look What You Made Me Do
Willow
Lavender Haze
I Knew You Were Trouble
Blank Space
You Belong With Me
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Shake It Off
Wrought Taxonomies: Museum’s First Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
Wendy Klemperer
On Earth Day, April 22, the Vanderbilt Museum debuted Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies, the first exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II.
Wendy Klemperer’s sculptures—a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species—celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment.
Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museumgoers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry.
Wrought Taxonomies is the inaugural exhibition in the Vanderbilt Museum’s outdoor sculpture program and the institution’s second exhibition of contemporary art focused on the relationship between culture and animals.
The Vanderbilt Museum occupies the former Gold Coast estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II, the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt and a pioneer of American motorsport. Located in Centerport on the north shore of Long Island, it is renowned for its extensive marine and natural history collections, Spanish revival architecture, and picturesque parklands.
All sculptures are viewable with general admission to the Museum grounds. Educational programs and workshops associated with the themes and content of Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies will be offered throughout the exhibition. Special thanks are due to the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, whose generous support made Wrought Taxonomies possible. The exhibition will run through April 22, 2024.
Shakespeare Festival: Next, ‘Macbeth’
The Vanderbilt Museum’s thirty-fourth annual Summer Shakespeare Festival is presenting Two Gentlemen of Verona, performed by the Carriage House Players, through Friday, June 30. All performances are given on the Mansion Courtyard stage. Next: Macbeth will open on Friday, July 7.
Tickets: adults, $20 | seniors & children under 12, $15
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Playbill:
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
June 4-30
Wed and Fri at 8:00 pm, Sun at 7:00 pm
Macbeth
July 7 – August 6
Wed and Fri at 8:00 pm, Sun at 7:00 pm
Love’s Labor’s Lost
August 11- Sept 8
Wed and Fri at 8:00 pm, Sun at 7:00 pm
Three Museums and Cafe Celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday
If you solemnly swear you are up to no good, three museums and a cafe in the Town of Huntington invite wizards and muggles to celebrate Harry Potter’s July 31 birthday week!
The Town of Huntington Historic Partnership created the event to connect the magic of the Harry Potter series with local history. Several local museums and a café are participating.
Huntington Town Historian Robert Hughes said, “Huntington’s museums are always looking for new ways to get people—especially young people—to visit their wonderful collections. What better way than to tap into the enthusiasm for all things Harry Potter? This will be a fun, educational way to celebrate everyone’s favorite wizard’s birthday.”
Nomi Dayan, Executive Director of The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor, said, “To stay relevant today, museums need to interpret their collections through a creative lens. Highlighting connections to the world of Harry Potter gives our local community a fun entry point to connect with our diverse collections.”
Event schedule:
Walt Whitman Birthplace
July 24-30
Find Quidditch brooms, the Mirror of Erised, earn Walt Whit’s Beans, and try a sorting hat. Bring in a Potter-themed poem for display!
Children 15 and under free with adult admission
246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746
Whaling Museum of Cold Spring Harbor
July 25-August 5
See the largest cauldron in Huntington! Search for Potter-themed haunted items and potion bottles. Decorate an owl mask.
Free with admission. Closed Mondays.
279 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor NY 11724
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum & Reichert Planetarium
August 1-4
Visit for a special scavenger hunt called “Mr. Vanderbilt’s Fantastic Creatures & How to Find Them!”
Free with admission
180 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY 11721
Sweetie Pies
July 25-August 5
Enjoy a Butter Beer Latte (decaf available) at Sweetie Pies in Cold Spring Harbor from
181 Main St, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
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Members of the THHP members include the Huntington Historical Society, Huntington Town Historian, Preservation Long Island, Walt Whitman Birthplace, Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association, and Northport Historical Society, and Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.
Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra Return for 16th Summer!
Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra will bring music, dancing, and romance to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum on Friday, August 4, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm – rain or shine. The acclaimed musicians – in their 16th appearance at the Vanderbilt – will perform on the outdoor stage in the Vanderbilt Mansion’s Spanish Revival courtyard overlooking Northport Bay.
Table reservations and location preferences will be available only for groups of 10 or more. (One payment per table reservation, online only.) If you would like to reserve a table location, please call Lisha Schlaich at 631-203-6788 only after the reservation is complete. Groups of fewer than 10 cannot reserve tables. Groups of any size with individual tickets cannot reserve tables, even after tickets are purchased. Seating for individuals is on a first-come, first-served basis.
This is a benefit for the museum, so we regret that tickets are non-refundable.
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The Mansion Courtyard offers a romantic atmosphere and is the perfect setting for an enchanted evening of music and dancing. The Estate grounds open at 6:00, and the performance begins at 7:00.
Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available for purchase.
These renowned musicians and recording artists have performed before many sold-out Vanderbilt audiences and received rave reviews.
Alex Torres and his orchestra have performed their original blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms – including salsa, merengue, cha-cha, bomba, plena, and Latin jazz – throughout North and South America. They have released many critically acclaimed CDs.
The orchestra has shared the stage and billings with such major acts as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Andy Montañez, Los Hermanos Moreno, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Barretto, Jane Burnette & The Spirits of Havana, King Changó, Arrested Development, Branford Marsalis, and Count Basie and Woody Herman.
Visit alextorres.com
Mustang & Shelby Club Plans July 9 Car Show
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum has honored William K. Vanderbilt II’s automotive and racing legacy for more than three decades by hosting shows of beautiful, restored vintage automobiles on the estate grounds.
The next show of this season will be held Sunday, July 9, by the Mustang & Shelby Club of Long Island.
Sept 10 – Jaguar Drivers of Long Island (rain date: Sept 18)
Oct 1 – Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc.
Oct 29 – Porsche Club of America, Inc.
Visitors pay only general admission to the museum – adults $10; seniors (62 plus) $9; students (with ID) $9; children 12 and under $7; military and children under 2 are free.
Vanderbilt, a pioneer race driver who competed in Europe, brought auto racing to the United States. He inaugurated the famous Vanderbilt Cup Races in 1904. That same year, he set a new land-speed record of 92.3 miles per hour in a Mercedes at a course in Florida. He also spurred the development of the American auto industry and built the prototype for the first toll road, the Vanderbilt Motor Parkway on Long Island.
Pop Up Prana Yoga: Three Upcoming Events
Jennifer Eagen of Pop Up Prana Yoga has scheduled three of her popular programs during July at the Vanderbilt Museum. July 14: Sunset Yoga; July 16: Planetarium Restorative Yoga; and July 30: Sunset Meditation. Early registration is suggested.
Friday, July 14: Sunset Yoga Flow
7:00 – 8:00 pm | Adults $30, children $15
Location: Vanderbilt Mansion lawn overlooking Northport Bay. Check-in begins at 6:30.
“Kick off your weekend with a beautiful view,” Eagen said. “All props and mats will be provided upon request. This is an open-level yoga practice, if you are new to the practice, feel free to join us. If you’re an advanced yogi and seek growth, no worries.” All will be given an opportunity to shine and improvise their own variations throughout the session.
Register
Sunday, July 16: Planetarium Restorative Yoga
5:30 – 6:30 pm | $37
Location: Beneath the expansive digital sky of the Vanderbilt Reichert Planetarium.
“Maximize your relaxation,” Eagen said. “You can expect 60 self-indulgent minutes of stillness, empowerment, and soothing guided meditation.”
Register
Sunday, July 30: Sunset Meditation at the Planetarium
6:00 – 7:00 pm | $25
This new 45-minute sunset meditation will explore the transitional beauty of sunset through twilight, she said. Participants will be guided through a profound and memorable meditative state, to reduce overall anxiety and stress
Register
Summer Science Fun for Children, Grades K-5
Fascinating, fun summer learning for grades K-5! Vanderbilt Museum science educators will offer Junior Explorer and Astronomer workshops for children in two, week-long sessions in July and August. Sail the seas, dive the oceans, make unique art. Advance registration is required.
Summer Science Fun
July 10-14 or August 14-18
9 am – 12 pm
$200 non-members | $180 members
Interested in membership? Learn more here.
Become a Member
Space is limited and spots fill quickly! Advance registration is required.
For more information and to register, please contact dawn@vanderbilltmuseum.org.
Junior Explorer Workshop Grades K-3
Explore the world at the Vanderbilt Museum!
Join us for a week of creative science and history workshops. We’ll sail the seas, dive the deepest oceans, soar among the tallest trees, and make unique art inspired by nature and the collections.
Registration is open for children entering Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Register JULY Jr Explorer Workshop Register AUGUST Jr Explorer Workshop
Junior Astronomer Workshop Grades 3-5
The Reichert Planetarium presents an exciting program for young astronomers!
Junior Astronomers have the opportunity to learn about multiple astronomy topics including our solar system, how to use a telescope, and how to identify constellations they can see from their own backyard. This program focuses on hands-on learning with STEAM activities and crafts supplemented by immersive live and pre-recorded fulldome presentations in our Planetarium theater.
Registration is open for children entering 3rd through 5th grade.
Register JULY Jr Astronomer Workshop Register AUGUST Jr Astronomer Workshop
The July and August sessions of each workshop will feature the same activities.
For this reason, we recommend against registering a child for the same workshop twice.
Tours Explore Vanderbilt Architecture and Collections
Take an intriguing walking tour of the Vanderbilt Estate with knowledgeable Museum educators. Learn about the history of the Eagle’s Nest estate; Warren & Wetmore’s design and exterior architectural details of the 24-room Spanish Revival mansion; and the striking ironwork of Samuel Yellin, considered the greatest iron artisan of the early 20th century, and visit the marine, natural history, and cultural artifact collections
Created by the Vanderbilt Museum Education Department, these tours will be offered on Thursday, July 20, and Thursday, August 24, at 12:00 and 1:30 pm.
Tickets, which include general admission, are available for purchase only at the door: Adults $16; seniors/students $15; children under 12, $14; and members free.
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Beth Laxer-Limmer, associate director of education, said, “The grounds are beautiful at this time of year and the walking tour is a perfect way to be introduced to the history of the estate. There is an abundance of beauty in the eclectic architecture and the unique details that reflect William Vanderbilt’s interests.”
William K. Vanderbilt II (1878-1944) spent summers at his Eagle’s Nest estate and mansion on Northport Bay between 1910 and 1944. He and his wife, Rosamond, hosted intimate gatherings and entertained well-known guests, such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Pierre Cartier, Conde Nast, Charles Lindbergh, and the Tiffanys. Eagle’s Nest is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Museum Together: Explore and Make Art
The Vanderbilt will offer Museum Together!, a new program for families, on Wednesday, August 23, from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the Hall of Fishes marine museum.
Join a museum educator for a tour of Willam K. Vanderbilt II’s collection of marine life and make a creative project together.
Fee: $10 | $9 for members
Register
Beth Laxer-Limmer, Associate Director of Education, says, “Families will have fun exploring the Museum’s collection of ocean fish and mammals together and collaborating on a work of art.”
Journey into Earth’s Ecosystems in New Show, ‘We Are Guardians’
The Reichert Planetarium’s new show, We Are Guardians, takes audiences on a . Audiences take a journey into, under, and around the many ecosystems across our planet. Ages 8 and up.
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We are all connected. Come and find out how.
Join us on a journey into, under, and around the many ecosystems across our planet. Discover how each component fits together, and how the health of each part is vital to the health of Planet Earth. Find out how, with the help of satellites and scientific study, we can understand the links between human activities and climate change, and what we can do to work together to improve the health of our shared home.
This visually stunning show is an immersive science film that features beautiful animation and creative storytelling that viewers of all ages can enjoy together.
Paved with Love: A Gift That Lasts Forever
Looking for a fresh, unique, everlasting gift for a loved one?
Purchase and engrave a brick that will become a permanent part of the Vanderbilt Museum.
Your donation will help the Vanderbilt to bring outstanding science, history, and art education to more than 25,000 students annually.
Your brick will be installed and displayed installed in your favorite brick walkway around the Vanderbilt Mansion and Terrace, or on the 43-acre grounds of the beautiful waterfront Estate.
Purchase a Brick
For more information, email: madison@
