Conference House to Receive a 2024 Award of Distinction from the Museum Association of New York
The Conference House Association will be recognized for their collaborative efforts to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Ward's Point Archaeological National Site, of which part is designated as the NYC Landmark Aakawaxung Munahanung (Island Protected from the Wind) Archeological Site.
This April, museums, museum professionals, industry partners, and legislative leaders will be recognized for their exceptional achievements at the Museum Association of New York’s 2024 annual conference “Giving Voice to Value” in Albany, New York. The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is a statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. They help shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities.
The fifteen MANY Awards of Distinction celebrate unique leadership, dedicated community service, transformational visitor experiences, community engagement, and innovative programs that use collections and resources to support museums and to tell stories of everyone who calls New York home. A partner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) and the Historic House Trust of New York City (HHT), the Conference House Association will be presented with a 2024 Award of Distinction under the Engaging Communities category at the volunteer to $99,000 organizational budget level. Awards in this category celebrate organizations that use exceptional and resourceful methods to engage their communities and build new audiences.
The Conference House Association was nominated by HHT for their efforts to engage community members in a commemoration hosted in celebration of Native American Heritage Month of the 30th Anniversary of the Wards Point Archaeological National Historic Landmark Site, the first landmark specifically recognizing the many generations of Indigenous Peoples who lived at Aakawaxung Munahanung (Island Protected from the Wind). A portion of this site was also designated as a New York City Landmark in 2021.
The Conference House Association partnered with NYC Parks-Conference House Park and the Tottenville Historical Society to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Wards Point Archaeological National Historic Landmark Site. The commemoration coincided with the launch of the Wisdom Walk at Conference House Park, designed by the Conference House Association to honor, remember, and highlight the Indigenous Peoples who were the original inhabitants of Staten Island and greater New York City.
About the Conference House
The Conference House, located on the south shore of Staten Island, is a circa 1680 stone manor house originally built by British sea captain Christopher Billopp as the center of his 1,600 acre estate. Later it became known as the Conference House for the Revolutionary War peace conference held on site in September 1776. The house is owned by NYC Parks, and operated by the Conference House Association in partnership with the Historic House Trust of New York City. The house opened as a museum in 1927 and has been restored to its mid-18th-century appearance. There are exhibit spaces located on the cellar, first, and second floors of the home in which the Conference House Association mounts rotating exhibits.
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Press Contact:
Giulietta Fiore
giulietta.fiore@historichousetrust.org
718-760-6598
