Saturday, September 7th, 2024

Save the Date: 10th Annual Culper Spy (WEEKEND!) on September 7th and 8th, 2024

Culper Spy Day 5k on Sunday, September 8th, 2024.

 

This eagerly anticipated event is brought to you by the Three Village Historical Society and Tri-Spy Tours, with the generous support of our title sponsor, the Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club.


Culper Spy Day is a highlight for history enthusiasts, drawing the community together from Manhattan to The Hamptons to celebrate our Revolutionary War heritage. The Three Village area, steeped in hidden intrigue, played a crucial role in America’s fight for independence. It was here that the nation’s first spy ring operated in secrecy, providing General George Washington with critical information that helped turn the tide of the American Revolution.


On Culper Spy Day, immerse yourself in the rich history of this pivotal era. Explore the very sites where these covert operations took place and engage with local groups dedicated to preserving the memory of the brave patriots who risked everything for their country. This event is a collaborative effort among local historical and cultural organizations, each contributing unique events and activities that bring the story of the Culper Spy Ring to life.


Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to delve into America's Revolutionary past and honor the legacy of the heroes who shaped our nation. Join us for a day of education, exploration, and celebration at the 10th annual Culper Spy Day!

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Three Village Historical Society Activity Sneak Peak (93 N. Country Rd., East Setauket, NY) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Tour the Spies! exhibit - Timed Entry for the award winning Culper Spy Exhibit. Adults: $8, Students: $5, Under 5: Free (Prices increase at the door) Tour begins every 30 minutes beginning at 10:30 a.m. - RESERVE HERE: https://threevillagehistoricalsociety.ticketspice.com/10th-culper-spy-day-tvhs-exhibits

  • Have your silhouette made by the worlds leading living silhouette artist! (additional fees may apply)

  • "Build" a timber frame house with Abraham Woodhull

  • Children's story hour on the lawn with various costumed docents and authors

  • Taste authentic colonial food with the historical cook Diane Schnwindt

  • Hands on activities for kids

  • Culper Spy themed authors and book signing, including Claire Bellerjeau, Perrie Tucker, Sarah Beth Durst, Kristina Raevsky and more

  • Revolutionary War encampment and musket firing drills with the 23rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welch Fusiliers in America and The Huntington Militia

  • General George Washingtons Oval Field Office

  • Augmented Reality demonstrations transporting you back to 18th century Long Island by 360xr

  • Mobile exhibits from Raynham Hall, Stony Brook University, Black Rock History, Davis Meeting House and more

  • Invisible Ink Demonstrations and 18th Century Craft Making with TVHS, Gallery North, The DAR, Four Harbors Audubon Society and Lynn Hewitt

  • Culper gift shop

  • View and learn about Anna Smith Strong’s famed clothesline

  • Colonial toy making and children's revolutionary era crafts with the Anna Smith Strong DAR

       and more!

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Around Town from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

See history come to life with this SELF-GUIDED interactive tour spanning the Three Villages and beyond!

 

VISIT:

  • Setauket Neighborhood House, c. 1790 (95 Main Street, Setauket) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Historic house tours (public bathrooms and complimentary cold water available)​

  • Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, c. 1892 (120 Main Street, Setauket) 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

    • ​All day, view Revolutionary War paraphernalia in the Library’s Lobby. Learn about the Library’s Culper Spy Ring website (spyring.emmaclark.org).

    • Information tent adjacent to the front entrance of the Library.

    • 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tunes of the Revolution with Linda Russell & Margery Cohen - live music on the Library lawn

    • Noon to 4:00 p.m. Children's Games & A "Spy-Themed" Craft on the Library lawn

    • Take a break for lunch or a snack at the new Level Up Kitchen Library Café, located inside Emma Clark Library. The café is open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and offers sandwiches, wraps, salad, desserts, coffee and tea (hot or iced), cold drinks and more. There's ice cream too!

  • Sherwood-Jayne Farm, c.1730 (55 Old Post Road, Setauket) 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Preservation Long Island is proud to announce the return of Big Bill the Tory! During the American Revolution, almost 30% of Long Islanders identified as Loyalists. William Jayne III proudly represents this position and defends the noble intentions and virtuosities of King George III. Drop by the Sherwood-Jayne Farm to hear the other side of the story about George Washington’s pesky band of renegade spies! $5/person. (Additional Fees may apply)

  • Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum, c.1755 (141 West Broadway, Port Jefferson)​ 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ​Opening of the new exhibit, Privateers: Pirates with Permission, at the Drowned Meadow Cottage Museum. Events will include guided tours, privateers re-enacting the plundering of the Roe family and colonial-themed storytelling for children.

  • Patriots Rock (Adjacent 97 Main Street, Setauket) 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. In August 1777, Colonial and Loyalist forces clashed at Patriots Rock in the Battle of Setauket. Today, this historic landmark serves as an important reminder of the strength and endurance
    that is the foundation of our country’s past, present and future. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this important historical site. The Three Village Community Trust will be on hand between 10am-3pm to hold talks, tours, and answer questions about ‘The Rock.’
    There will be information recognizing the significance of the Native American people, and for the first time, a blacksmith will be at Patriots Rock demonstrating the art of metal working! Don’t forget to buy a Patriots Rock t-shirt or hat!

  • Long Island Museum (1200 NY-25A, Stony Brook) 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (free admission on Saturday and Sunday) Make a stop at LIM during Three Village Historical Society’s 10th Annual Culper Spy Day! Take this limited opportunity to see the recently discovered Culper Spy letter on display. The handwritten letter dated November 8, 1779, from Benjamin Tallmadge (using his alias, John Bolton) to Robert Townsend (alias, Samuel Culper Jr.) is the only known surviving letter between the two. Also spend time with our world famous carriage collection, and take part in the carriage museum scavenger hunt to find period relevant vehicles. 

  • Caroline Episcopal Church of Setauket, c. 1729 (1 Dyke Road, Setauket) Open for guided tours 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. In addition, the History Center will be open for self-guided tours, with a docent present for questions. The cemetery can be visited at any time. 

  • Setauket Presbyterian Church, c. 1812 (5 Caroline Ave., Setauket) The interior of the church will be open with docent's from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. An informational pamphlet will be available. Cemetery open anytime.

  • Stony Brook University, Melville Library Level 2, Special Collections (100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook) 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (free admission, free parking in the Administration garage) Spies do exist in the archive! Visit Special Collections during Three Village Historical Society’s 9th Annual Culper Spy Day to view an original 1779 letter from George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge concerning the Culper Spy Ring.

  •  Setauket Elementary School 134 Main Street, East Setauket, NY, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (free admission, free parking in the parking lot) View the Vance Locke Murals depicting the founding of Brookhaven. Docent will be available for q&a.