Alice Austen House
The spectacular setting of the Alice Austen House is one reason for visiting. There are beautiful views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and lower Manhattan across the New York Bay. The lovely grounds are surrounded by a white picket fence and landscaped with lovely flowers.
Another reason is to learn about the life and work of the pioneering woman photographer Alice Austen (1866 - 1952). Alice was first introduced to photography when she was 10 years old and she used a closet on the second floor of the house as a darkroom. Austen documented the changing face of the city, immigrant life and daily life in Victorian society among her friends.
The house has a long history before Alice was born, originally built in the 1690's, early 1700's as a one room Dutch Colonial House. Remodeled and expanded in the 1800's and again in 1844 when Alice Austen's grandfather purchased the house and named it "Clear Comfort".
Alice lived in the house for most of her life, after losing most of her inherited wealth during the Great Depression she was evicted from "Clear Comfort" in 1945, moving to the Staten Island Farm Colony. When her photographs were rediscovered in 1951 by Oliver Jensen, a historian, money was raised through the publication of her work and Austen moved to a private nursing home where she died in June 1952.
After Alice Austen's death, a group of historic preservationists led by photographer Berenice Abbott and architect Philip Johnson saved the house from being destroyed. The house is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, became a New York City Landmark in 1971. the house was purchased by the City of New York in 1975 and opened to the public in 1985. In 1993 it was named a National Historic Landmark.
Today the house is open to the public. The house is furnished with period furniture ( some of the items and furniture belonged to Alice). There are changing photography exhibits and events throughout the year. One of the highlights is "Pug Day" which honors Alice Austen's pug named Punch. Other events include art making workshops and performances.
EVENT CALENDAR and VISITOR INFORMATION:
website www.aliceausten.org
(718) 816-4506 x10
ACCESSIBILITY:
There's an accessible ramp entrance at the rear of the house. Public areas of the house are mostly accessible as the exhibition galleries and period rooms are on the first floor. An accessible restroom stall is located in Gallery 2.
GETTING THERE:
Staten Island bus B51 (from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal) to the Bay Street/Hylan Boulevard Stop. The Alice Austen House is about one block away
If traveling by car there is a parking lot at the rear of the Alice Austen House
