No. 94 – Tour the Phillips House

Featured this week on our countdown of 100 things to do in RVC is the village's historical museum — the Phillips House — otherwise known as the. Barely recognizable as a museum, the two-story Victorian era home located at 28 Hempstead Ave. has served the Rockville Centre community free of charge for nearly three decades.

The story behind the building is this: Captain Samuel F. Phillips settled in Rockville Centre from New England and built the house for his family in 1882. He was one of the central figures in developing the village, including the public library and school system. Deemed too historically important to demolish in 1974, the Village Board voted to donate the building to the village and turn it into a public museum. The building has since gone through several restorations, but the original structure has been preserved through the years.

The inside of the house reminds me of my grandmother’s living and dining rooms, filled with antique heirlooms that look too old and delicate to touch. It has kitchen supplies circa the 1800s, china and tea sets, candlesticks – even the wallpaper and tablecloths look as though they’ve been in place for more than 120 years.

Outside, visitors can relax in the gardens, which was dedicated in 2008 for the enjoyment of the public. The serene site is adorned with trees and flower bushes and is maintained by the museum’s staff.

Currently, the museum is hosting an exhibit in honor of Black History Month, featuring a selection of from the collection of Freeport artist April Marius. Debuting in the United States for the first time, the exhibit shows a timeline of dolls from antique to modern. April Marius’s showcase runs every weekend until April 17.

Admission is free to the public, and the hours of operation are Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Category: Museum, history

Cost: Free

Season: Year-round, exhibits run for a select time frame.

Note: A weekend trip to the museum offers a valuable education in local history!