Ever wonder what stories these old fieldstone walls could tell? This is the Museum of Bronx History. It stands as a testament to time and the rich heritage of this borough.
The Museum of Bronx History wasn’t always a museum. It started as a colonial-era fieldstone house built around 1758. Isaac Valentine, the original owner, was a prosperous blacksmith and farmer. Enslaved African craftsmen fashioned the oak and pine floorboards.
In 1965, The Bronx County Historical Society received the house as a donation. After careful restoration, the Museum of Bronx History opened in 1968. Today, visitors can still see those original fieldstone walls. They can also admire the oak and pine floorboards made by those skilled craftsmen.
The house’s location was strategic. It provided Valentine access to markets. It also provided blacksmithing business from carts heading to King’s Bridge and Manhattan. During the Revolutionary War, British and Colonial armies fought over this area.
Isaac Varian bought the house in 1792. His son Michael took over after his death in 1820. Jesse, Michael’s son, became the third generation to own the farm in 1893.
Rapid development made farming difficult by the 1890s. Jesse Varian sold the land in 1904. William F. Beller bought the house in 1905. He maintained it for 60 years. To preserve it, William C. Beller donated it to The Bronx County Historical Society in 1965.
Inside the Museum of Bronx History, you will find rotating exhibitions. These exhibitions showcase different aspects of Bronx history.
Currently, you can view ‘Seis del Sur’s HISTORIAS: The Stories Behind the Images’. This interactive exhibit explores early documentary photographs of The Bronx. It reshapes the borough’s narrative. It personalizes it with anecdotes.
Another exhibit highlights The Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame. Derek Doward curated it. It showcases the rich history of basketball in The Bronx.
The Museum of Bronx History also features ‘A Bronx Writers’ History’. This exhibit highlights Bronx pioneers of writing.
You can also explore the histories of African-American residents of the Allerton Coops. ‘With Our Hands/Con Nuestras Manos: Arte de Tierra y Mar/Spring Love’ celebrates Puerto Rican women’s creativity.
The Museum of Bronx History is located at 3266 Bainbridge Avenue. It stands in a quiet residential neighborhood. It is a short walk from Montefiore Medical Center. The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library and The Bronx County Archives are nearby.
The Museum of Bronx History is open Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is open Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Members get free admission. Free admission is also available for NYC residents through Culture Pass NYC.
Private tours can be scheduled outside of regular hours. Contact Roger McCormack for scheduling.
The Museum of Bronx History stands as a guardian of stories. It is a place where the past comes alive. As you leave, consider the layers of history within these walls.