Staten Island Proud | Snug Harbor Cultural Center

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Broadway Stages. In celebration of our 40th trip around the sun, we are shining the spotlight on the heart of our community – the local businesses and organizations that provide goods, services, and experiences that allow us to thrive and delight in this great city we call home. We continue our series in Staten Island and feature the local establishments that line our streets, providing a livelihood and rich culture for our neighbors, family, and friends. Join us as we get to know the people and organizations that make our community home. Today, our journey takes us to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in the heart of Randall Manor!

Located on the North Shore of Staten Island, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is  where history, architecture, the arts, gardens, agriculture, and education come together. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is the result of more than four decades of restoration and development to convert a 19th-century charitable rest home for sailors into a regional arts center, botanical gardens, and public park.

Six of Snug Harbor’s original structures were the first designated landmarks for New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1965, including the majestic Main Hall (built in 1833) and Music Hall (built in 1892), one of the oldest concert halls in New York City.

In early 1970, the property was purchased by the city of New York to transform it into a public cultural resource. In 1975 the not-for-profit Snug Harbor Cultural Center was formed to operate the buildings, and the Staten Island Botanical Gardens managed the gardens. The two organizations merged in 2008 to form Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.

In addition to fourteen distinctive gardens spread across the campus, it’s also home to the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program (SHARP), Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, and The Noble Maritime Collection.

Such a vast and encompassing operation needs lots of support. You can lend a hand by volunteering or you can financially support all that the Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens do by clicking HERE.

Snug Harbor is a hub of activity, and there is something for everyone. Yoga, agriculture, historical tours, scholarly lectures, and artistic performances. You can browse their calendar or subscribe to their Facebook and Twitter pages to stay abreast of the latest! While you are at it, follow them on Instagram and YouTube to bask in all the splendor they have to offer!

Just a note, only two attractions – the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art and the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden require minimal admission fees and have different hours of operation. Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden’s main outdoor grounds and gardens are free of charge to the public, open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk, and do not require advance registration or ticketing. Best of all, pets are allowed! So, plan your visit today, and be sure to tell them that Broadway Stages sent you.