The Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages hosted the exhibition Growing Up on Long Island from February 21 until October 25, 2009. The exhibit explored the many ways that childhood has changed across this region since 1800. Funded by the New York Council on the Humanities and the beneficiary of many expert consultants in childhood history, Growing Up drew from the Long Island Museum’s own diverse collection of children’s clothing, work-related artifacts, toys, and other objects. The museum also borrowed items from many area museums and private lenders. Highlights included an elaborate wool-embroidered christening gown trimmed with ostrich feathers, from St. James, c. 1860; beautifully painted and carved carousel horses from Coney Island, 1914; a prom and debutante-type dress worn in Patchogue, c. 1955; and a Quinceañera dress from Riverhead, 2008. Visitors also enjoyed a series of oral history installations throughout the exhibition, the product of a collaboration between the museum and the Middle Country Public Library.
This video tour is led by Joshua Ruff, Curator of the History and Carriage Collections at the museum, and associate editor of LIHJ.