History & Heritage Extended Tours

80 North Ferry Road,Shelter Island NY 11964

29 July, 2021

Description

Join a walking tour to learn the early history of the three cultures that came together in 1651 when Shelter Island was established. Walk through history with Sylvester Manor's curator, Donnamarie Barnes, as you learn about early history of Shelter Island and stories of the three cultures that came together at the time of the establishment of Sylvester Manor on Shelter Island in 1651: the Indigenous Native American Manhansett Tribe who made the island their home for a millennium, the European businessmen who bought Shelter Island to provision their Caribbean sugar operation, and the Enslaved Africans brought from the West Indies as the island’s labor force. The tour begins at the Manor House and will proceed to the Native American Wigwam, Quaker Cemetery and Monument, Afro-Indigenous Burial Ground, barn complex and the Sylvester Manor Gardens. For a shorter tour, please select the "core" tour version here. The 90-minute walk is approximately 1.5 miles on unpaved, dirt paths throughout the Manor grounds and woodlands. Please wear appropriate footwear. Insect and tick repellent are suggested. This tour is not ADA accessible and is recommended for ages 12+. All CDC and Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island’s 1652 homestead, has embarked on a new era as a nonprofit organic farm, historic plantation and vibrant arts and education center, with programs open to all. Our mission is we PRESERVE, CULTIVATE, and SHARE the history of Sylvester Manor to ensure that food and art remain connected to community and the land.