BENEFIT PREMIERE: The History of Race Rock Light

Fishers Island Theater

Join us at the Theater to learn how a lighthouse came to be erected in the 1870s on a dangerous submerged ledge amidst some of the most unpredictable and swiftest moving tides on the East Coast. Reception immediately following.

Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Illustrated talk by Ben Shattuck about his journey to retrace Thoreau’s path through the Cape’s outer beaches, from the elbow to Provincetown’s fingertip. Q&A and Book signing to follow.

The Napatree Point Conservation Area: Past, Present & Future

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Illustrated talk by Peter V. August and Grant G. Simmons III, The Watch Hill Conservancy. Stewardship of the 86-acre preserve is an ever-changing challenge. We will review the scientific monitoring we are doing at present to guide our future stewardship and management programs.

Seagrass and Society – Underwater Plants as a Critical Resource

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Illustrated talk by Jamie Vaudrey, Ph.D. on Seagrass, the ribbon-like plant found rooted underwater along Fishers Island’s coasts that is a vital and vibrant resource for both marine animals and humans.

WATER: The History of Fishers Island’s Supply, Use and Distribution Systems

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

This illustrated talk by HLFM Director Pierce Rafferty will examine our island’s water sources and chronicle the evolution of our critical water system infrastructure beginning in the 1890s to today. In-person and virtual.

Birds In Winter: Surviving The Most Challenging Season

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Virtual and in-person illustrated talk by Roger Pasquier. Learn why we should think about birds in winter during August. Here on Fishers Island and throughout the Northern Hemisphere many birds are already preparing for the most challenging season of the year.

Gulf Stream Perspectives

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Illustrated talk by W. Frank Bohlen, physical oceanographer and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut. The Gulf Stream has for centuries been of interest to navigators, oceanographers and artists. Today, the Stream figures prominently in discussions of climate change. This combination of subjects gives life to a remarkable natural phenomenon.

Illustrated Talk “A Most Pivotal Decade: Fishers Island In The 1940s”

Zoom

Museum Director Pierce Rafferty will host a virtual rebroadcast of his illustrated talk first presented and recorded at the FI Movie Theater in August 2021. Pierce reveals much that has been forgotten or was never widely known about the 1940s on Fishers Island.

Journeys: Ospreys, Technology, and an Author

Zoom

An illustrated talk by ornithologist Rob Bierregaard that brings to light several decades of research on the ecology and migratory patterns of Ospreys, work that has been greatly aided by evolving technology. This virtual talk also reveals Rob's own journey to becoming a first-time children’s book author.

Turtles of Fishers Island and the Surrounding Region

Zoom

This VIRTUAL ONLY illustrated talk by Kim Hargrave, education director of the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, takes a close look at the lives and habitats of these incredible creatures as well as the threats they are facing due to habitat loss, climate change and the pet trade.

Pollinator Pathway and Controlling Invasive Plants on Fishers Island

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

Illustrated talk by Pollinator Pathway organizer and Nix the Knotweed founder Suzanne Thompson and natural & organic landscaper Petie Reed offering timely gardening advice on how to attract pollinators and combat Knotweed and other invasive plants crowding out our natural ecosystems.

The Wreck of the Steamer Atlantic

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

An Illustrated talk—both in-person and virtual by Museum Director Pierce Rafferty that chronicles the dramatic story of Fishers Island’s most deadly and consequential shipwreck.

Ceremonial Stonework: The Enduring Native American Presence on the Land

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

ILLUSTRATED TALK (in-person and virtual) by documentary photographer Markham Starr on the ceremonial stonework left behind by the indigenous population that occupied New England for 12,000 years. 4-5 P.M. at the Museum, 2nd Floor. Reception to follow.

Modern Houses of Fishers Island and Beyond

Henry L. Ferguson Museum 1109 Equestrian Ave, Fishers Island, NY, United States

This illustrated talk by Jacob Albert of Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc., Boston, Mass., traces modern movements in architecture from the International Style to Post-Modernism, as reflected on Fishers Island. IN-PERSON IS FULLY BOOKED! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR VIRTUAL