NEW EXHIBITS
The 2026 Special Exhibits at the Maple Lane Campus and the Nautical Museum at Horton Point are open Saturday and Sunday, May 23 through Sept. 13, 2026.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, our exhibits this year tell our local story during the Revolutionary era. See other EVENTS and HAPPENINGS related to Southold during America's 250th!
*We welcome private group tours throughout the year by appointment!*
**Embark on a journey through time at our Maple Lane Campus of historic buildings and the Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse where unexpected artifacts and all new exhibits reveal fascinating stories from centuries past.**
2026 Exhibits:
Maple Lane Campus
Special Exhibit: The American Revolution in Southold
Southold Historical Museum is showcasing several exciting new seasonal exhibits that explore the fascinating history of the North Fork during the Revolutionary era.
The Mayne Gallery in the Ann Currie-Bell House at our Maple Lane Campus is featuring The American Revolution in Southold. Explore the little-known stories of Long Island during the Revolutionary War. As occupied territory, Southold’s experience was unique. In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, this exhibit highlights what life was like here during the Revolution.
The exhibit is open to the public 1:00 PM - 4:00PM weekends May 23 - Sept. 13 at Southold Historical Museum’s Maple Lane Museum Campus, 55200 Main Road, Southold.
Maple Lane Campus
Special Quilt Exhibit: Red, White, and Blue
At the Effers Collection Center, visitors are invited to view Red, White & Blue, a special textile exhibit featuring contemporary quilts alongside vintage American flags. The display highlights the artistry, craftsmanship, and enduring symbolism of these textiles, offering a unique look at how the colors red, white, and blue have been expressed through fabric and design over time.
The locally made quilts are on exhibit July Saturdays only 1PM to 4PM at the Maple Lane Campus, 55200 Main Road, Southold, NY. Please check in at the Ann Currie-Bell House. Included with admission.
Special Exhibit: Maritime Stealth in Southold During the American Revolution
At the Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse, the main exhibit is Maritime Stealth in Southold During the American Revolution, an exhibit about the successful Meigs Raid of 1777 on Sag Harbor storage depot. American Continental Army forces crossed from Connecticut, landed in Southold, traveled over what is now Southold Town Beach (George Sullivan Beach), crossed Hashamomuck Pond, and continued into Peconic Bay toward Sag Harbor. The successful raid resulted in the capture of approximately 90 British soldiers, who were escorted through Southold and back to Connecticut. The exhibit is open weekends, 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM, May 23 - September 13, 2026 at the Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse.
Other Nautical Museum Exhibits
Explore thrilling exhibits detailing the early history of the lighthouse, its keepers, and the baymen, along with shipwrecks, whaling, and the famous Holland Submarine. Plenty of interactive experiences for children!
Ongoing Exhibits at the Maple Lane Campus
Reichert Family Barn Sleighs and Carriages
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The Reichert Family Barn has new interpretive labels that offer names and uses of various artifacts that are on exhibit throughout the barn. The extensive sleigh collection, which is exhibited on the upper bays is now easier to identify, as well as the carriages that are on display throughout the barn and annex.
Located on the grounds of the Maple Lane Campus.
Enslavement in Southold
The reinterpretation of the permanent Enslavement in Southold exhibit examines the institution of slavery in Southold and identifies five people who are documented as being enslaved by the Landon Family in the mid to late 1700s. The reinterpretation at the Thomas Moore/Samual Landon house at the Maple Lane Campus involved incorporating the narrative of the enslaved people throughout the house. Additionally, the entryway to the house is set up as the permanent exhibit space.
Tips from a Colonial Laundry
The former buttery, which accompanied the Ann Currie Bell House, has been converted to a “Colonial Wash House.” Visitors can imagine how laundry would have been done during the late 1700s.
Located on the grounds of the Maple Lane Campus.
Colonial Herb Garden
The Kitchen Garden was a mainstay for Colonial families in Southold. In it, women grew the vegetables and herbs used on a daily basis for their families. The Colonial Herb Garden, set behind the 1700s Thomas Moore House at Southold Historical Museum's Maple Lane Campus is a representation of the types of herbs a household might've grown.
Interpretive Signage
The new outdoor interpretive signs at the Maple Lane Campus, funded by a grant through Suffolk County Parks, help visitors learn more about the numerous buildings as they walk the beautiful grounds. These signs offer some basic information about the historic buildings, including some historic photographs.
There is a suggested admission of $5 per adult or $10 per family which includes admission to both the Maple Lane Campus and the Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse locations.
Maple Lane Campus
55200 Main Rd., Southold
Hours: Sat. and Sun. from 1PM- 4PM, May 23 through September 13, 2026.
Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse
3575 Lighthouse Rd., Southold
Hours: Sat. and Sun. from 11:30AM - 4PM, May 23 through September 13, 2026.
Parking is available at Horton Point Lighthouse for a $5 fee through the Southold Park District. Street parking is with a Southold Town Permit only. The Lighthouse Tower is generally open - as temperatures allow and volunteers are available.
