Staten Island Museum

mission founded in 1881, the staten island museum, new york city’s only general interest museum, engages visitors with interdisciplinary exhibitions and educational programs that explore the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. the museum is dedicated to making its current and future collections broadly accessible for educators, students, researchers and the general public by providing authentic experiences in the field and at the museum. the museum traces its beginnings to 1881, when a group of 14 naturalists had the foresight to pool their collections and research efforts out of a concern that “the rapid growth of the community [has already] obliterated many of our most interesting natural objects.” their goal was to keep a record for future generations against the anticipated loss of species and to advocate for environmental preservation long before it was fashionable to do so. today, the staten island museum continues to bui