Skip to content

LATEST NEWS
PHOTO GALLERY
CONTACT US
[email protected]
631-788-7239

Facebook Instagram Email

About
Programs
History
- Island History
- From the Archives
Nature
Land Trust
- Land Trust
- Nature Trails
Archaeology
Join and Give

About
Programs
History
- Island History
- From the Archives
Nature
Land Trust
- Land Trust
- Nature Trails
Archaeology
Join and Give

Events

Home
Events

2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00

Loading view.

native plants

Events
native plants

Events Search and Views Navigation

Enter Keyword. Search for Events by Keyword.

Event Views Navigation

List
Month
Day

Select date.

August 2025

Sat 9

August 9 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Native Plant Garden Tour

Join us for a garden tour to take a look at native plants that offer beauty to your landscape while helping to repair and sustain our fragile ecosystem on Fishers Island.

Today

Google Calendar
iCalendar
Outlook 365
Outlook Live
Export .ics file
Export Outlook .ics file

Search for:

HLFM welcomes Jessica NeJame as the new Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator

H.L. Ferguson Museum 2023: The Year in Review

Fishers Island Biodiversity Report

Museum Newsletters

2024 Newsletter

Go To Newsletters

Find us on Facebook

fergusonmuseum

The official Instagram account of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, Fishers Island, NY.

WINTER WATERFOWL OF FISHERS ISLAND AND THE SURROUN

WINTER WATERFOWL OF FISHERS ISLAND AND THE SURROUNDING REGION

Please join us this Sunday, January 19, 2025 @ 4 PM for a VIRTUAL ONLY illustrated talk with Kim Hargrave, education director of the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.

We will explore the unique species that grace Fishers Island and the surrounding coastlines during the colder months and learn more about their remarkable cold-weather adaptations and incredible migration patterns.

Goldeneye photo by Todd McCormack

For more information about programs at the Museum, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #goldeneye #waterfowl

Hello to a new West Harbor visitor! We believe thi

Hello to a new West Harbor visitor! We believe this to be a common dolphin, one of 32 known species of these toothed whales. Dolphins can be identified by the elongated jaws that form their ‘beaks’, inside of which are cone-shaped teeth used for grasping and trapping prey before swallowing it whole. They are leaner and longer than porpoises, averaging 6 to 12 feet in length. This one appears alone but usually where you find one dolphin, you will find many. Let us know if you see any more!

🎥: @dcbracerock

#whatstheporpoiseofthis #justforthehalibut #hlfm #henrylfergusonmuseum #commondolphin

As we let go of the old and look ahead to a new ye

As we let go of the old and look ahead to a new year, we’ve assembled all your Most Liked Posts of 2024. Thanks everyone! Best wishes for 2025 from all of us here at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum and Land Trust.

2024 ‘Most Liked’ Media Credits
10. Halloween Greetings from HLFM / Mike McNamara / 10.31.24
9. Spotted Salamanders near Brickyards Woods / Claudia Desimone / 3.7.24
8. Holiday Welcome from the Osprey and Penguin Friend / Pierce Rafferty / 12.21.24
7. ‘Stony Beach’ drone photo / Neil Knowles / 6.28.24
6. HLFM FI Treasure Hunt / Mike McNamara / 7.12.24
5. Last Supermoon of 2024 over Darby’s Cove / Terry McNamara / 11.15.24
4. Northern Lights over Darby’s Cove / Terry McNamara / 10.10.24
3. New Museum Bike Rests / Genie Trevor / 6.3.24
2. Family of American Woodcocks (Scolopax minor) near Pequot / Eliza Cantlay / 5.3.24
1. Passengers disembarking from the MV Race Point, July 4, 1986 / Charles Morgan

Thank you for all your contributions! Remember, if you see something neat or notable on Fishers, send it to Pierce or a board member with a description, date, and who to credit.

#hlfm #henrylfergusonmuseum #topposts2024 #fishersisland #fishersislandny

Give the gift of a Museum Membership & support the

Give the gift of a Museum Membership & support the HLFM this Holiday season - and beyond. It’s easy! Just click the link in our bio and follow the directions. Museum Membership is the perfect gift for that person in your life that loves Fishers Island history and nature, and that wants to preserve and protect the uniqueness of Fishers Island for generations to come. Your support is critical for us to be able to provide the programs, illustrated talks, weekly children’s programs, and to continue our work conserving and protecting the undeveloped open spaces on Fishers Island through the HLFM Land Trust.

#givethegiftofmuseummembership #supportyourlocalmuseum #hflm #fishersisland #fishersislandny

The Osprey is lit! The tree has been trimmed! It’s time for the annual Museum Holiday Party! Sunday, December 22nd, from 5-7 pm. Come one, come all!

#hlfm #henrylfergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny

Celebrate the season with us at the Henry L. Fergu

Celebrate the season with us at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum Holiday Party! It is this Sunday, December 22nd, from 5-7pm. It promises to be an evening filled with holiday cheer, engaging conversations, and delicious light fare crafted by Karla Heath. Bring your family, visiting relatives, and house guests—adults and kids alike are welcome.

While you're here, don't miss viewing our 2024 annual exhibit, "Bird’s Eye View: Fishers Island from Above," generously sponsored by Altus Partners. Hope to see you Sunday.

#hflm #henrylfergusonmuseum #holidayparty #fishersislandny #fishersisland #finy

Thank you, Fishers Island! Over 50 wonderful folks

Thank you, Fishers Island! Over 50 wonderful folks gathered at 2 PM on Friday at the Museum for the 19th Annual HLFM Trail Clearing and Beach Cleanup. The Museum’s Land Trust manages over 377 acres of undeveloped Fishers Island land, and your help is essential as we maintain, protect and restore these pristine natural areas. Things kicked off with hot cider and donuts, and Board Member Scott Reid gave a great overview of the Museum’s work to conserve and preserve Fishers Island for future generations, built on the foundation of over 60 years of institutional knowledge and current sustainable practices. All Museum trails and beaches were attended to by at least one group and fun was had by all on a glorious day where our trail network and the broader community collectively shined together. We hope to see you again next year—and the Annual Oyster Afterparty will return as well!

#hlfmlandtrust #trailclearing #fergusonmuseum #practiceconservation #fishersisland #finy #hlfm #fishersislandny #happythanksgiving

Photo Credits:
1-4 Eliza Trevor
5 Scott Reid

It was a Happy Thanksgiving indeed for sailors and

It was a Happy Thanksgiving indeed for sailors and fishermen alike when the Fishers Island Life-Saving Station crew first reported for duty on Thanksgiving Day, 1904. The station was built near East Harbor on the narrow neck of the island to allow surfmen access to both the north and south shores. It remained there until the 1950s, when the Coast Guard Station moved to its most recent location on Silver Eel Cove.

Happy Thanksgiving, and we hope to see you at the Trail Clearing event tomorrow--2 PM sharp at the Museum.

Credits:
1. Surfman on Shore Patrol, Fishers Island, NY c.1910s Museum Collection. Donated by Harry and Susie Ferguson
2. Coast Guard and Customs agents boarding Thelma Phoebe, Chocomount Beach, Fishers Island, NY circa May 2, 1923 Courtesy of Bob Brooks
3. Coast Guard from Fishers Island Station guard sacks of alcohol seized from rumrunner Thelma Phoebe, Chocomount Beach, April 2023. Donated by Harry and Susie Ferguson.
4. US Life-Saving Service Crew, Fishers Island, NY c.1910 Photograph by Lawrence D. Goodell. Museum Collection. Donated by Pierce Rafferty
5. US Life-Saving Station and Boathouse, East Harbor c.1913 Photograph by Brown & Dawson. Donated by Harry and Susie Ferguson
6. Crew of US Coast Guard Station No. 59 Fishers Island, NY c.1920 Museum Collection. Donated by Tim and Sharon Patterson
7. "The Life Savers, Fishers Island, N.Y." Real photo postcard published by Brown & Dawson, circa 1913. Donated by Pierce and Vicki Rafferty.
8. Crew and visitors posing in front of lifeboat on ramp at Fishers Island Life-Saving Station, circa 1911. Donated by Pierce and Vicki Rafferty.

#coastguard #fishersisland #finy #hlfm #fishersislandny #happythanksgiving

It’s trail clearing time! Come down to the Museu

It’s trail clearing time! Come down to the Museum at 2 PM on Friday, 11/29, to help clear the Museum’s Land Trust trails of invasives and our beaches of garbage and debris. Arrive promptly at 2 p.m. for hot cider and autumn treats as you get your team assignments and pep talk from Board Member Scott Reid. Please note that there is no ‘Oyster Afterparty’ this year. Check the Museum website for complete details. Bring everyone—as they say, ‘Many hands make light work.’

Also, don’t forget: 20% off ALL ITEMS in the Gift Shop, Friday and Saturday, 10am-1 PM.

Hope to see you soon!

Photos:
1. Community members gather at the Museum for the 18th Annual Trail Clearing in 2023.
2. A Black Cherry tree (Prunus Serotina) being suffocated by invasive Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Part of the tasks at this year’s trail clearing event will be to remove invasive vines.
3. Holiday Gift Shop Sale!

#hlfmlandtrust #trailclearing #fergusonmuseum #practiceconservation #fishersisland #finy #hlfm #fishersislandny #happythanksgiving

Holiday Sale! Get 20% off all items in the Museum

Holiday Sale! Get 20% off all items in the Museum Gift Shop this Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 1pm. We’ve got tons of new items in stock, from books to posters to stationary to educational toys to stuffed animals, and more. There’s something for every naturalist in your life, no matter the age. The large format images on the second-floor gallery are also for sale and proceeds benefit the Museum’s Art Fund.

#greenfriday #holidayshopping #fishersisland #finy #hlfm #fishersislandny

The last supermoon of 2024 (as seen over Darby’s

The last supermoon of 2024 (as seen over Darby’s cove) is visible tonight, Friday, November 15th. A supermoon is defined as an astronomical phenomenon where a full moon (180 degrees to the Sun) looks larger and brighter than usual. It happens when the full moon occurs at the same time when it is closest to the Earth in its orbit. Have a good view? Tag us!

📸: Terry McNamara
#supermoon #beavermoon #fergusonmuseum #hlfm #fisherisland #finy #fishersislandny

As the shadows grow longer and the witches take fl

As the shadows grow longer and the witches take flight,
Beware ghostly creatures seeking to give you a fright.

As Jack-o'-lanterns flicker, casting eerie light,
Happy Halloween to all, and good trick-or-treating, to-night!

Photos 1-3, Special guest docent
Photo 4, as seen off Peninsula road.

Join us this SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 at 4 PM, for “TH

Join us this SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 at 4 PM, for “THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL FIELD TRIALS ON FISHERS ISLAND” an Illustrated Talk by Museum Director Pierce Rafferty, co-hosted by Ted Lagala, Eastern Regional Field Governor, Parent Club of the Breed, ESSFTA

Discover how Walton Ferguson, Jr. and a small group of friends and relatives staged the first Springer trials ever held in America and catch a glimpse of the camaraderie of gatherings at the Mansion House Hotel and in the field during the trials' rigorous tests. Celebrate the champion dogs that made sporting history here on Fishers Island.

WHEN; Sunday, October 13, 2024
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum, 2nd Floor and virtual via zoom

For more information about programs at the Museum, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #springerspaniel

The Northern Lights as spotted over Darbys Cove to

The Northern Lights as spotted over Darbys Cove tonight, October 10th, by Terry McNamara. They are visible this far south as the result of a major geomagnetic storm creating disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field. Exactly how far south the aurora can be seen depends on the intensity of the storm. Thursday’s storm is not expected to reach the same strength we saw back in May, where people all along the East Coast were reportedly seeing the lights. They should be visible to the naked eye, but take your cellphone because the camera will capture even more vivid images. And don’t forget a jacket—it is chilly!

#northernlights #fisherislandny #fishersisland #finy #auroraborealis

Fireflies are surely among our greatest ambassador

Fireflies are surely among our greatest ambassadors for Earth’s natural magic. For centuries their ethereal beauty has sparked wonder and inspired poets, artists, and children of all ages. Join us this SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 at 4pm for "THE WONDROUS WORLD OF FIREFLIES" an Illustrated Talk by biologist and professor emerita at Tufts, Dr. Sara Lewis, who will give a presentation on their remarkable lifestyles and explain where they got their bright lights. Learn about human activities that put fireflies at risk and find out what you can do to help protect these dazzling creatures.

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024
TIME: 4 p.m.
LOCATION: In person at the Museum, 2nd floor and virtual via zoom

For more information about programs at the Museum, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #fireflies

An ancient snapper emerged from Middle Farms Pond

An ancient snapper emerged from Middle Farms Pond recently. A fabulous reminder that humans were not the first to arrive on our shores. Photo by Amy Fine Collins.

Rocks are amazing! Join us at the Museum Wednesday

Rocks are amazing! Join us at the Museum Wednesday, August 28 @ 2pm for "ROCK CYCLE RUCKUS", a FAMILY PROGRAM presented by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) for ages five and up. Learn about the cycle rocks go through as they turn from sedimentary to metamorphic to igneous and back again by playing games and seeing lots of awesome rock samples!

WHEN: August 28, 2024
TIME: 2 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: In person at the Museum.
Suggested donation $10.

ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED SO ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED.
Please phone: 631-788-7239 or email info@fergusonmuseum.org
(note the name and date of the specific program and the name and age of the attendee/s).

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #rocks #rockcycle

Join us this SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 at 4pm for "MENHADE

Join us this SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 at 4pm for "MENHADEN" an Illustrated Talk by Emmy-nominated filmmaker and naturalist Jacob Steinberg who will give a presentation on his current work in progress: a film illustrating the critical importance of menhaden to our fisheries and our development as a nation.

Considered by some to be the most important fish in the ocean, menhaden are a fascinating fish (on top of being one of the ospreys’ favorite meals). This talk will cover the history of the menhaden fishing industry and the reverberating environmental impacts it has had over time.

WHEN; Sunday, August 25, 2024
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum, 2nd Floor and virtual via Zoom

For more information about programs at the Museum, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

PHOTO CREDIT: Menhaden, photo by Virginia Institute of Marine Science

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #menhaden #fish

Join us this SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 at 4pm for a spec

Join us this SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 at 4pm for a special screening of Emmy-nominated filmmaker and naturalist Jacob Steinberg’s PBS Nature Special “SEASON OF THE OSPREY” at the FI Theater. Following the screening there will be a Q&A and discussion with the filmmaker. No admission charge. Voluntary contributions will go to the Ken Edwards Wildlife Conservation Fund of the HLFM to assure the continuance of the range of work that Ken has been providing, including the construction and maintenance of osprey platforms, as well as nesting boxes for a range of birds.

Steinberg’s celebrated “Season of the Osprey” is a unique film, narrated by Paul Giamatti, that captures the struggles, failures and triumphs of an osprey family over the course of a summer on the Connecticut River. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch a pair of ospreys battle their enemies, withstand the elements, and hunt hundreds of fish, all to raise the next generation of these consummate sea hawks.

WHEN: Saturday, August 24, 2024
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: FI Theater. This will be in-person only.
Q&A and discussion to follow.

For more information about Museum programs, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

PHOTO CREDIT: Osprey photo courtesy of Jacob Steinberg

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy #osprey #raptors #birds

Discover the interesting and important work wildli

Discover the interesting and important work wildlife rehabilitators do to help injured animals! Join us Wednesday, AUGUST 21 for "ANIMAL REHABILITATION STORIES" - a FAMILY PROGRAM presented at the HLF Museum by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) for ages five and up. We will talk about what it means to be a rehabilitator, what you can do at home to protect wildlife and meet some of the Nature Center’s non-releasable animal residents. Suggested donation $10.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
TIME: 2 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: All Wednesday children’s programs are in person at the Museum.

ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED SO ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED.
Please phone: 631-788-7239 or email info@fergusonmuseum.org
(note the name and date of the specific program and the name and age of the attendee/s).

For more information about programs at the Museum, please visit our website:
https://fergusonmuseum.org/events

#hlfm #fergusonmuseum #fishersisland #fishersislandny #finy

Load More Follow on Instagram

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Photo by Dickie Riegel

Eelgrass Plays an Important Role in the Ecosystem

A well-camouflaged Least Sandpiper foraging among eelgrass. Photo by Connor Jones

The Henry L. Ferguson Museum

The Museum hosts three main galleries that feature Fishers Island-related Archaeology (Prehistory), Natural History and History, as well as adjacent annual exhibition space and a reference library. In addition, the Museum holds and maintains a Land Trust with properties located on all sections of the Island.

CONTACT THE MUSEUM

Phone: 631.788.7239

Email: [email protected]

WINTER HOURS

By appointment only, please contact HLFM Director Pierce Rafferty at 631-788-7239 or e-mail [email protected] The Museum’s Land Trust trail system is open for visitors.

2024 Newsletter

Sign-up to Receive e-News

First Name

Last Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

© Copyright The H.L. Ferguson Museum | All Rights Reserved

Facebook Instagram Email

Toggle Sliding Bar Area

ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2023

Untitled
F.I. Sketchbook 2005

THE SKETCHBOOKS OF CHARLIE FERGUSON

In the full sweep of Fishers Island’s history, there is no artist more synonymous, more closely associated with Fishers Island than Charles B. “Charlie” Ferguson. The main show features images from two of Charlie's sketchbooks which functioned as illustrated diaries that were filled with daily activities, nature observations, personal notes, and lots of art—drawings, sketches, and watercolors—in various states of completion.

ENTER VIRTUAL EXHIBIT

Subscribe to our e-News

Sign-up to get the latest news and update information. Don't worry, we won't send spam!

First Name

Last Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human: