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Staten Island Museum to Open Snug Harbor Expansion

By Nicholas Rizzi | September 18, 2015 11:28am
 The museum will open it's expanded building at Snug Harbor with four new exhibits to the public on Saturday.
Staten Island Museum Snug Harbor Expansion
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LIVINGSTON — After decades of planning and years of construction, the Staten Island Museum will finally open its $24.4 million renovated building in Snug Harbor this weekend.

The expansion to the museum makes room for four new exhibits that trace the history of Staten Island from millions of years ago to a modern artist's interpretation of the landscapes of the borough.

"We have been working so hard in preparation for this moment and are elated to share our extensive collection with the public," said Cheryl Adolph, interim president and CEO for the museum.

The new exhibits include "Remember the Mastodon," with a giant re-creation of animal species and fossils that were found in the borough, and "From Farm to City" which traces the history of land use in Staten Island.

Aside from exhibits tracing the borough's history, the museum also has "Opening the Treasure Box: Bringing the World Home" which displays ancient art and objects from around the world that had been long stored — and some forgotten — in the museum's nearly 134-year-old archive.

The new LEED-certified renovated building will give the library, which also has a base at 75 Stuyvesant Place, an additional 18,000 square-feet of space with a new auditorium, classrooms and client controlled exhibit spaces.

The majority of the interior of the old building was removed except for an historic staircase that was renovated.

The museum will still use its original location in St. George for several longer term exhibits and use the new space for revolving exhibits. Visitors will be able to pay $5 for adults to get into both spaces, Adolph said.

The expansion will be celebrated over the weekend with an event on Saturday with free admission, live music, lawn games and face painting. On Sunday, there'll be a classical concert, nature walks and gallery talks.