The Long Island Museum recently celebrated the opening of two of its carriage galleries following a six-month renovation.
The unveiling of the galleries, "Carriages for Sport and Pleasure," caps an 11-year project to refresh the museum.
"This represents the final phase in a project that took more than a decade to complete and provides a richer learning experience for visitors," Julie Diamond, the director of communications, said in an email to Patch. "The new galleries feature interactive displays that aren't present in other parts of the museum."
The two galleries hold 45 carriages – some of which have been in storage for years, Diamond said. The centerpiece is the "Tally Ho" carriage, which was gifted to The Long Island Museum from the Museum of the City of New York.
"It is responsible for the start of the carriage driving craze in the United States," Diamond said.
The new galleries cost about $286,000 to complete, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The total 11-year renovation totaled about $1 million, which came from a variety of sources including government awards and corporate and individual donations.
The Long Island Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $9 per person, $7 for seniors, and $4 for kids ages six to 17. Admission for children under six and museum members are free.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
