The Henry L. Ferguson Museum Newsletter 2026 From the President: After this winter’s serial storms and low temperatures, I can’t wait to get back to Fishers for warmth, sunshine, friends, and Museum events. One of our primary goals set forth in our new strategic plan is to increase engagement across our community with year-round
How to Bury Treasure A Field Guide to Designing Treasure Hunts By Mike McNamara, Board Member Local legend holds that over three hundred years ago, Captain William Kidd came ashore at Fishers Island by night and buried some of his treasure on the Island’s east end. Academics dismiss the story, pointing to
A Sampling of Acquisitions for the Museum’s Collections Real photo postcard published by G.L. Thompson depicting the moving of disappearing gun barrel over temporary tracks on current site of F.I. School, circa 1910s. Original stock certificate for Fishers Island Telegraph Company, 1888. Unsigned. Photo of Steamer Restless by
A Sampling of Donations to the Museum’s Collection in 2025 Please note that this is not a complete list, and we greatly appreciate all of your donations. Carol Dailey. Watercolor painting by noted American artist and illustrator Nicholas Solovioff (1927-1994) of Race Rock Light and surrounding islands as seen from Race Point,
Island History How the Museum Grew with Its Collections by Pierce Rafferty, HLFM Director Adding History to the First Museum The Museum was founded in 1960 to honor prominent Fishers Island civic and business leader Henry L. Ferguson. Originally located in a rented 600-square foot storefront in Baker Cottage, across from today’s
Mapping the Future: Advancing Eelgrass Monitoring in Long Island Sound by Hannah Vagts, Project Manager, FISMC Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is essential to coastal ecosystems like Long Island Sound. Eelgrass meadows provide critical habitat for numerous marine species and contribute to improved water quality, reduced coastal erosion, and carbon sequestration. Understanding the
Bringing Back the Ospreys by David R. Zimmerman Excerpted from Newsday (Suffolk Edition), Sunday, Aug 20, 1972 ·Page 222 Newsletter editor’s note: The following article brings to light the history of a project in the late 1960s to move healthy Osprey eggs from nests in the Chesapeake Bay area to nests
Why Count Ospreys? by Jack Schneider, Land Trust Manager Already three eggs in Osprey Cam nest by April 25, 2026. Ospreys are central to the Museum’s identity. The species was chosen as the Museum’s iconic logo and is the star of two of the Museum’s important wildlife observation programs: (1) the
The Fading Light of the Firefly by Terry McNamara, Chair Wildlife Committee One of the highlights of residing on Fishers Island is interacting with the many creatures that also call the Island home. The appearance of fireflies or “lightning bugs” in late June and early July is one of these experiences that
Restoring Biodiversity with Native Plants by Jack Schneider, Land Trust Manager Fishers Island’s landscape has been changing for the past 14,000 years. From tundra to forest to pasture to resort: Each ecological community that was wiped out became replaced by a new community. Despite this turmoil, nature persisted, albeit challenged and diminished.
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F.I. Sketchbook 2005
