2 FOR 1 TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND FLUSHING FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
EVERY WEDNESDAY THIS MAY, ENJOY GUIDED TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND THE FLUSHING FRIENDS (QUAKER) MEETING HOUSE
CHILDREN'S READ ALOUD PROGRAM
READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN CELEBRATING ASIAN-AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY MONTH
DATE: Saturday, May 11th
TIME: 11:00am to 12:00pm
LOCATION: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
ADMISSION: FREE
WHAT TO EXPECT:
You’re invited to our Asian-American & Pacific Islander History Read Aloud for children. This is a FREE program. Bowne House educators will read books highlighting stories about Asian-American and Pacific Islander experiences and achievements. The Read Aloud is appropriate for children ages 5 through 11. Refreshments will be served.
BOOK LIST:
Rainbow Shopping, by Qing Zhuang:
Sharing a delicious meal helps a child feel loved in this heartfelt tribute to Chinatown and spending days-off together. On a rainy Saturday, a young girl feels as gray as a pigeon. Since moving from China to New York City, Mom, Dad, and Grandma have been very busy working. But a trip to Mom’s favorite Chinatown store to find the best produce, seafood, and spices for dinner just might turn the girl's day around. Later on, Dad steams, boils, fries, and stir-fries all the ingredients while girl and Grandma taste-test. After cozy goodnights, a final dream spread shows the family walking hand-in-hand in rainbow colors--an affirmation of love and support even on rainy, gray days. Inspired by Qing Zhuang’s experience as a first generation Chinese American, Rainbow Shopping explores a young child's feelings of loneliness and discovery with tenderness and humor.
Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, by Florence Sakade:
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Japanese fairy tales and other folk stories—providing insight into a vibrant literary culture. In this treasure trove of much-beloved Japanese children's stories, you'll meet charming characters drawn from folklore and passed down for generations. These tales about playful goblins with long noses, walking statues, and a delightful hero who just happens to be one-inch tall speak of the virtues of honesty, humility and hard work. What better way for a parent to teach than through stories that thrill their children!
Korean Children's Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales, by Kim So-Un:
Korean Children's Favorite Stories is a captivating collection of Korean folktales for children which are still being told, just as they have been for generations. Some are Korean-specific, while others echo those told in other countries. Written with wit and pathos, they unveil the inevitable foibles of people everywhere and expose the human-like qualities of animals and the animal-like qualities of humans. These Korean fables pulsate with the rhythm of life and the seasons, transporting the reader to a wonderland where ants talk, a baby rabbit outwits a tiger, a tree fathers a child, and a toad saves a whole village.
2 FOR 1 TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND FLUSHING FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
EVERY WEDNESDAY THIS MAY, ENJOY GUIDED TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND THE FLUSHING FRIENDS (QUAKER) MEETING HOUSE
SACRED SITES OPEN HOUSE: GUIDED TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE
Bowne House is excited to once again participate in the Annual NY Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House. This annual event celebrates “the social and cultural importance of New York State’s amazing ecclesiastical buildings.”
Join us for FREE guided tours:
The History of Quakerism and Religious Freedom at the Bowne House
GROUP TOUR START TIMES:
11:15am, 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm
Admission: Free
Arrival time: Please arrive at least ten minutes before tour start time
Tour Duration: 30 minutes
2 FOR 1 TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND FLUSHING FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
EVERY WEDNESDAY THIS MAY, ENJOY GUIDED TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND THE FLUSHING FRIENDS (QUAKER) MEETING HOUSE
2 FOR 1 TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND FLUSHING FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
EVERY WEDNESDAY THIS MAY, ENJOY GUIDED TOURS OF BOWNE HOUSE AND THE FLUSHING FRIENDS (QUAKER) MEETING HOUSE
READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN
READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN: “GROWING HISTORY IN FLUSHING”
FREE ADMISSION - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
DATE: Saturday, April 20th
TIME: 11:00am - 12:00pm
LOCATION: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
WHAT TO EXPECT: In celebration of Spring, you’re invited to a Garden-themed Read Aloud. This is a FREE program. Bowne House educators will read books highlighting stories about gardening and horticulture. The Read Aloud is appropriate for children ages 5 through 11. Refreshments will be served.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are only required for children in attendance. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the program.
We will be reading the following books:
In a Garden by Tim McCanna
“How does a garden grow? Follow along from seed to sprout to bud to flower as a garden blooms. Worms, ladybugs, millipedes, and more help a garden grow each season. Tim McCanna’s gorgeous, rhyming text, combined with Aimée Sicuro’s stunning illustrations make this charming picture book as informative as it is fun to read aloud.”
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
“One boy's quest for a greener world... one garden at a time. While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world. This is an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a clever seek-and-find element to this captivating picture book.”
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
“Explore the secret realm beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Follow a young girl and her grandmother on a journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden—and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen. Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow—populated by all the creatures that make a garden their home.”
WOMEN'S HISTORY READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN
JOIN US FOR A CHILDREN’S READ ALOUD IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
FREE ADMISSION - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
DATE: Saturday, March 16th
TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm
LOCATION: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
WHAT TO EXPECT: You’re invited to our Women’s History Read Aloud for children. This is a FREE program. Bowne House educators will read books highlighting “Women Who Made a Difference.” The Read Aloud is appropriate for children ages 5 through 11. Refreshments will be served.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are only required for children in attendance. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the program.
We will be reading the following books:
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker
“The bold story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race and was depicted in the film Hidden Figures. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.”
Her Name Was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz
“Born in 1738, Mary Katharine Goddard came of age in colonial Connecticut as the burgeoning nation prepared for the American Revolution. As a businesswoman and a newspaper publisher, Goddard paved the way for influential Revolutionary media. Her remarkable accomplishments as a woman defied societal norms and set the stage for a free and open press. When the Continental Congress decreed that the Declaration of Independence be widely distributed, one person rose to the occasion and printed the document—boldly inserting her name at the bottom with a printing credit: Mary Katharine Goddard.
Here is an important biography of a groundbreaking woman who had the courage to write herself into the history she helped create.”Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by Jonah Winter
“Before Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took her seat in our nation's highest court, she was just a little girl in the South Bronx. Justice Sotomayor didn't have a lot growing up, but she had what she needed -- her mother's love, a will to learn, and her own determination. With bravery she became the person she wanted to be. With hard work she succeeded. With little sunlight and only a modest plot from which to grow, Justice Sotomayor bloomed for the whole world to see.”
BLACK HISTORY READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN, Session 2
JOIN US FOR A CHILDREN’S READ ALOUD IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
FREE ADMISSION - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
DATE: Wednesday, February 21st
TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm
LOCATION: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
WHAT TO EXPECT: You’re invited to our Black History Read Aloud for children. This is a FREE program. Bowne House educators will read books highlighting stories about Black history. The Read Aloud is appropriate for children ages 5 through 11. Refreshments will be served.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are only required for children in attendance. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the program.
We will be reading the following books:
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud
“The images stitched into Hannah's quilt lead to secret signposts on the Underground Railroad as she and her father take flight from slavery on a perilous path to freedom.”
The Drinking Gourd (Rise and Shine) by F. N. Monjo
“The stars of the Big Dipper have led a runaway slave family to Deacon Fuller's house, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Will Tommy Fuller be able to hide the runaways from a search party—or will the secret passengers be discovered and their hope for freedom destroyed?”
Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & Colin Bootman
“Lindy and her doll Sally are best friends - wherever Lindy goes, Sally stays right by her side. They eat together, sleep together, and even pick cotton together. So, on the night Lindy and her mama run away in search of freedom, Sally goes too. This young girl's rag doll vividly narrates her enslaved family's courageous escape through the Underground Railroad. At once heart-wrenching and uplifting, this story about friendship and the strength of the human spirit will touch the lives of all readers long after the journey has ended.”
BLACK HISTORY READ ALOUD FOR CHILDREN, Session 1
JOIN US FOR A CHILDREN’S READ ALOUD IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
FREE ADMISSION - REGISTRATION REQUIRED
DATE: Saturday, February 17th
TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm
LOCATION: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
WHAT TO EXPECT: You’re invited to our Black History Read Aloud for children. This is a FREE program. Bowne House educators will read books highlighting stories about Black history. The Read Aloud is appropriate for children ages 5 through 11. Refreshments will be served.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are only required for children in attendance. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the program.
We will be reading the following books:
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud
“The images stitched into Hannah's quilt lead to secret signposts on the Underground Railroad as she and her father take flight from slavery on a perilous path to freedom.”
The Drinking Gourd (Rise and Shine) by F. N. Monjo
“The stars of the Big Dipper have led a runaway slave family to Deacon Fuller's house, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Will Tommy Fuller be able to hide the runaways from a search party—or will the secret passengers be discovered and their hope for freedom destroyed?”
Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & Colin Bootman
“Lindy and her doll Sally are best friends - wherever Lindy goes, Sally stays right by her side. They eat together, sleep together, and even pick cotton together. So, on the night Lindy and her mama run away in search of freedom, Sally goes too. This young girl's rag doll vividly narrates her enslaved family's courageous escape through the Underground Railroad. At once heart-wrenching and uplifting, this story about friendship and the strength of the human spirit will touch the lives of all readers long after the journey has ended.”
FREE Professional Development Workshop for Teachers
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS
with
Bowne House is partnering with New York Historical Society to host an Online Teacher Workshop.
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 31, 6:00-7:00pm ET
This workshop is FREE.
Participants earn one hour of CTLE credit.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
On the Road to Freedom: Bowne House and the Underground Railroad in New York City
Learn about the Underground Railroad in New York City history with the Bowne House Historical Society, a designated research facility for the National Park Service’s "Network to Freedom" and the only Network member located in the borough of Queens.
SOLD OUT: Lunar New Year Lantern Workshop
LUNAR NEW YEAR LANTERN WORKSHOP
Date: Sunday, January 28th
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Flushing Friends Meeting House at 137-16 Northern Blvd, Queens, NY 11354
Workshop Fee: $25 per participant
What to Expect: Participants will learn how to make four different Lunar New Year lanterns like the images seen in the picture above. The workshop will be led by Teaching Artists Myrna Perez Fung and Lilly Chu. All materials will be supplied to participants. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited.
PLEASE NOTE: All children under 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones attend FREE of charge.
Bowne House Acknowledges International Holocaust Remembrance Day
The Bowne House acknowledges International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, a day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population, along with countless members of other minorities, who were murdered between 1933 and 1945 during World War II. January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945. The day was designated by United Nation’s General Assembly resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005.
Resolution 60/7 urges every member nation of the U.N. to honor the memory of Holocaust victims, six million Jews, and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide. It rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an event and condemns all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement or harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief.
Almost three hundred years before this tragic history, Flushing citizens protested religious intolerance in 1657 when they wrote a demand for religious freedom and tolerance that is today known as the Flushing Remonstrance. These principles, manifested by John Bowne’s courageous stand for religious freedom after his arrest at the Bowne House in 1662, have become enshrined in the United States Constitution. We must never forget how precious this liberty is world-wide.
Afternoon Tea at Bowne House
In commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, Bowne House is hosting Afternoon Tea on Sunday, December 17th.
Learn about this historic event while enjoying tea and treats in an early-American home.
Location: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Ticket: $20 per person (via Eventbrite)
The 36th Annual Holly Tour
The Holly Tour is a tradition featuring an afternoon of holiday cheer and historic tours in Flushing, NY.
For this year’s Holly Tour, visitors will explore four historic sites in Flushing: Bowne House, the Voelker Orth Museum, Kingsland Homestead, and the Quaker Meeting House. The event will take place on Sunday, December 10th from 1pm until 5pm. Each house will be providing its own refreshments and programming. Come take a trip through early-American and Victorian era Queens! This is an in-person program.
Bowne House Holly Tour Program:
Visitors will enjoy a holiday-themed tour of the home's historic rooms and learn about early-American holiday traditions. Refreshments will be served.
Tours of Bowne House will be offered at the start of each hour.
First Tour starts at 1:00pm
Second Tour starts at 2:00pm
Third Tour starts at 3:00pm
Fourth Tour starts at 4:15pm
Sponsored By
"Embroidery for Beginners" Workshop
Join Us At Our Upcoming Workshop:
EMBROIDERY FOR BEGINNERS
Location: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
Date: Sunday, November 19th 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Ticket Price: $25 per person via Eventbrite
Ages 14+
Description: Participants will learn introductory stitches used in the needle-craft called embroidery. These stitches may include outline stitches, black line stitches, and simple flower stitches. The workshop will be lead by Bowne House Trustee Janet Caraisco. All materials will be supplied to participants. The workshop will be held in the Bowne House and refreshments will be served. Rain or Shine! Space is limited.
Open House New York Weekend Festival
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK WEEKEND FESTIVAL, BOWNE HOUSE IS HOSTING A SPECIAL EXHIBIT:
“The Fabric of Freedom"
Admission is FREE.
Location: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing NY 11354
Date: Saturday, October 21st & Sunday, October 22nd
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Self-guided exhibit tours begin on the hour at 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, & 3:00pm.
“The Fabric of Freedom” Exhibit Description:
This exhibit features a recently conserved rare 19th-century Black Doll* from the Bowne House museum's collection, as well as contemporary work by quilter and dollmaker Thadine Wormly. The exhibit explores the doll’s connection to abolition, education, and material culture in relation to the 19th-century greater Flushing free black community.
*Doll Conservation Funding:
Doll Conservation funding was supported through the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grant Program administered by Greater Hudson Heritage Network. This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. Conservation treatment was completed by Meredith Wilcox-Levine of the Textile Conservation Workshop, Inc. in South Salem, New York.
Featured Artist Statement:
Thadine Wormly, a resident of Flushing, Queens for over fifty years and mother of four, reflects:
Through my eyes I envision an image from simple to abstract that I love enough to create. As a painter utilizes canvass- paint & brush, I use cloth, thread, needle & scissor to create quilts, wearable items, fabric postcards & dolls.
Quilting and dollmaking via hand-sewing provides a therapeutic & relaxing diagnosis for mind, body & spirit. It brings an inner peace from start to finish for the textile created. I’ve unknowingly committed decades, from my childhood through this autumn season loving cloth, thread & yarn manipulation.
Cross Stitch Workshop for Beginners at the Bowne House
Ticket Price: $25 Per Person
Participants will be taught how to sew a design using cross stitch embroidery and create their own keepsake. Plus, learn about the history of cross stitch and “samplers” in the lives of early American girls and women. The workshop will be led by Bowne House Trustee Janet Caraisco and take place under a tent in the Bowne House garden. All materials will be supplied to participants. Refreshments will be served. Space is Limited.
P.S. Don’t forget your reading glasses!
RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP: Make Your Own Hand-Weaved Basket
We are happy to announce a new date for our Basket Weaving Workshop! After a postponement due to severe weather conditions on our previously scheduled date, this workshop will now be held on Sunday, August 27th.
Location: The Bowne House Garden at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing NY 11354
Date: Sunday, August 27, 2023 | Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Ticket Price: $25 per person
What to Expect:
Participants will learn how to make a small natural wood basket like the one pictured above. The workshop will be led by Teaching Artists Myrna Perez Fung and Lilly Chu. All basket weaving materials will be supplied to participants. To properly work with the materials, they will be soaked in warm water. Participants should wear a top they don’t mind getting wet. The workshop will be held in the Bowne House garden and refreshments will be served.
Space is limited.
Bowne House Celebrates July 4th, Independence Day!
On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the wording of the Declaration of Independence. With that document, it signaled that the American colonies would be free and independent, no longer ruled by Great Britain.
This announcement was after the start of the American Revolution- which led to the creation of the United States Constitution, and the establishment of our country and our society.
On this day, July 4, 2023 let us remember those who sacrificed and risked everything they had to win our freedom and to secure the ideals which have defined us, as a nation and a people, for nearly 250 years. Let us remember how important it is to preserve these ideals and values for future generations of Americans.
Two For One Tours of the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House, June 28th
Every Wednesday this June, tour the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House
How to: Arrive at the Bowne House (built ca. 1661) for one of the four listed start times below. All tours are guided by a Bowne House Educator. After you’ve toured the Bowne House, take a short journey to the Flushing Friends Meeting House (built ca. 1694) and explore the site with a member of the Meeting. Directions from the Bowne House to the Meeting House are listed below.
Admission: One ticket for both sites. Tickets are available upon arrival to the Bowne House. Accepted forms of payment include cash & credit.
Adult: $10.00 ; Student: $8.00 ; Youth under 14 years old: $5.00 ; Member: Free
First Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
11:00am-11:45am
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
12:00pm-12:30pm
Second Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
12:00pm-12:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
1:00pm-1:30pm
Third Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
2:00pm-2:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
3:00pm-3:30pm
Fourth Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
3:00pm-3:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
4:00pm-4:30pm
Directions from the Bowne House to the Friends Meeting House:
Start at the Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354.
Head north on Bowne St toward 37th Ave/Congressman Rosenthal Place.
Walk straight ahead for about 2 minutes and turn left onto Northern Blvd.
Walk straight ahead on Northern Blvd for about 7 minutes.
Arrive at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354.
Two For One Tours of the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House, June 21st
Every Wednesday this June, tour the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House
How to: Arrive at the Bowne House (built ca. 1661) for one of the four listed start times below. All tours are guided by a Bowne House Educator. After you’ve toured the Bowne House, take a short journey to the Flushing Friends Meeting House (built ca. 1694) and explore the site with a member of the Meeting. Directions from the Bowne House to the Meeting House are listed below.
Admission: One ticket for both sites. Tickets are available upon arrival to the Bowne House. Accepted forms of payment include cash & credit.
Adult: $10.00 ; Student: $8.00 ; Youth under 14 years old: $5.00 ; Member: Free
First Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
11:00am-11:45am
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
12:00pm-12:30pm
Second Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
12:00pm-12:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
1:00pm-1:30pm
Third Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
2:00pm-2:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
3:00pm-3:30pm
Fourth Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
3:00pm-3:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
4:00pm-4:30pm
Directions from the Bowne House to the Friends Meeting House:
Start at the Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354.
Head north on Bowne St toward 37th Ave/Congressman Rosenthal Place.
Walk straight ahead for about 2 minutes and turn left onto Northern Blvd.
Walk straight ahead on Northern Blvd for about 7 minutes.
Arrive at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354.
Bowne House Celebrates Juneteenth
This weekend, Bowne House celebrates Juneteenth. This national holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, the day the last remaining enslaved African-Americans in the Confederacy were emancipated. Through archival research and programs for visitors of all ages, Bowne House continues to honor the contributions of African-Americans to the history of Queens and Greater New York.
Bowne House StoryMaps: A Preview
MAPPING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AT BOWNE HOUSE: FLUSHING AND BEYOND
In honor of Juneteenth, Bowne House is excited to share a preview of our digital StoryMaps project, which we are currently developing with the aid of a grant from the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, funded by The Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The project involves researching and mapping Underground Railroad routes in and around Queens, as well as sites relating to African-American history and abolition in Flushing.
Two For One Tours of the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House, June 14th
Every Wednesday this June, tour the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House
How to: Arrive at the Bowne House (built ca. 1661) for one of the four listed start times below. All tours are guided by a Bowne House Educator. After you’ve toured the Bowne House, take a short journey to the Flushing Friends Meeting House (built ca. 1694) and explore the site with a member of the Meeting. Directions from the Bowne House to the Meeting House are listed below.
Admission: One ticket for both sites. Tickets are available upon arrival to the Bowne House. Accepted forms of payment include cash & credit.
Adult: $10.00 ; Student: $8.00 ; Youth under 14 years old: $5.00 ; Member: Free
First Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
11:00am-11:45am
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
12:00pm-12:30pm
Second Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
12:00pm-12:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
1:00pm-1:30pm
Third Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
2:00pm-2:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
3:00pm-3:30pm
Fourth Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
3:00pm-3:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
4:00pm-4:30pm
Directions from the Bowne House to the Friends Meeting House:
Start at the Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354.
Head north on Bowne St toward 37th Ave/Congressman Rosenthal Place.
Walk straight ahead for about 2 minutes and turn left onto Northern Blvd.
Walk straight ahead on Northern Blvd for about 7 minutes.
Arrive at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354.
50 at 50: Bowne House Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The New York Landmarks Conservancy
In honor of its 50th Anniversary, the New York Landmarks Conservancy has launched the 50 at 50 Online Exhibition. This exhibition highlights 50 historic sites across New York City that the Conservancy has helped to preserve and protect, including the Bowne House Historical Society & Museum.
To celebrate our participation in this wonderful anniversary, Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House are partnering to host a FREE joint, in-person event on Sunday, June 11th from 11:30am to 3:00pm. This event will include a presentation about the Bowne House Archives by the museum’s archivist, Charlotte Jackson, self-guided tours of the Bowne House, and tours of the Flushing Friends Meeting House. Plus, visitors can enjoy refreshments and a children’s craft station in the Bowne House garden.
Free Admission. No pre-registration required.
Event Schedule:
11:30am - 12:00pm: Guest sign-in and Refreshments
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Presentation and Q&A
1:00pm - 2:00pm:
Option 1: Self Guided Tour of Bowne House
Option 2: Tour of the Flushing Friends Meeting House
2:00pm - 3:00pm:
Option 1: Self Guided Tour of Bowne House
Option 2: Tour of the Flushing Friends Meeting House
Two For One Tours of the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House, June 7th
Every Wednesday this June, tour the Bowne House and the Flushing Friends Meeting House
How to: Arrive at the Bowne House (built ca. 1661) for one of the four listed start times below. All tours are guided by a Bowne House Educator. After you’ve toured the Bowne House, take a short journey to the Flushing Friends Meeting House (built ca. 1694) and explore the site with a member of the Meeting. Directions from the Bowne House to the Meeting House are listed below.
Admission: One ticket for both sites. Tickets are available upon arrival to the Bowne House. Accepted forms of payment include cash & credit.
Adult: $10.00 ; Student: $8.00 ; Youth under 14 years old: $5.00 ; Member: Free
First Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
11:00am-11:45am
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
12:00pm-12:30pm
Second Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
12:00pm-12:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
1:00pm-1:30pm
Third Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
2:00pm-2:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
3:00pm-3:30pm
Fourth Tour:
Bowne House Historic House Tour
3:00pm-3:45pm
Flushing Friends Meeting House Tour
4:00pm-4:30pm
Directions from the Bowne House to the Friends Meeting House:
Start at the Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354.
Head north on Bowne St toward 37th Ave/Congressman Rosenthal Place.
Walk straight ahead for about 2 minutes and turn left onto Northern Blvd.
Walk straight ahead on Northern Blvd for about 7 minutes.
Arrive at the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354.
"Sacred Sites Open House" Tour: The History of Quakerism and Religious Freedom at the Bowne House
Date: Sunday, May 21st*
*Please note, the original event date was listed as Saturday, May 20th. The event has been moved to Sunday, May 21st.
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Bowne House is excited to once again participate in the Annual NY Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House. This annual event celebrates “the social and cultural importance of New York State’s amazing ecclesiastical buildings.”
Join us for a FREE guided tour, titled The History of Quakerism and Religious Freedom at the Bowne House. One Group Tour will be offered at the start of every hour at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, & 2:00pm. No pre-registration required.
Click Below to Learn More:
Doll Making Workshop with the Bowne House Historical Society
Date & Time: Sunday, March 26th at 2:00pm
Location: The Flushing Quaker Meeting House
Location Address: 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY
Price: $20 per person
What is Included: Pre-made cloth doll bodies, yarn for hair, and material for making simple clothing for a Black doll are all included in the fee.
What to Bring: Registrants are asked to bring their own scissors, needles and thread.
Bowne House Historical Society will feature Queens’ textile artist and master quilter Thadine Wormly leading a workshop on the creation of a traditional, 19th-century Black doll.
During the session, workshop participants will make a facsimile of a rare, cloth doll in the Bowne House collection. The doll is currently being conserved before inclusion in a forthcoming museum exhibition on the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad.
CLICK HERE to Learn More about the Black Doll Conservation Project.
Bowne House Celebrates Women's History Month
This March, we reflect on the history of the women affiliated with Bowne House & celebrate their contributions to social and activist causes.
From John’s radical Quaker wife, Hannah Feake, in the 17th century, to the “Parsons Sisters” who preserved the Bowne House and its legacy in the 20th, these women preachers, world travelers, philanthropists, social reformers, and preservationists made a significant difference in Flushing and beyond.
Bowne House Celebrates Black History Month
All month long, Bowne House is celebrating Black history and heritage!
We are excited to share new research and content honoring Black history throughout February.
We also welcome you to explore our "Black History" webpage featuring articles, an interactive story map, a history quiz and research resources.
The Bowne House museum is designated as a research facility by the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
Bowne House Acknowledges International Holocaust Remembrance Day
The Bowne House acknowledges International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, a day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, six million Jews, two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population, along with countless members of other minorities, who were murdered between 1933 and 1945 during World War II. January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945. The day was designated by United Nation’s General Assembly resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005.
Resolution 60/7 urges every member nation of the U.N. to honor the memory of Holocaust victims, six million Jews, and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide. It rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an event and condemns all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement or harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief.
Almost three hundred years before this tragic history, Flushing citizens protested religious intolerance in 1657 when they wrote a demand for religious freedom and tolerance that is today known as the Flushing Remonstrance. These principles, manifested by John Bowne’s courageous stand for religious freedom after his arrest at the Bowne House in 1662, have become enshrined in the United States Constitution. We must never forget how precious this liberty is world-wide.
Bowne House Wishes You a Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!
Bowne House is located in the heart of Flushing, Queens, a neighborhood that is home to a rich and thriving Asian community. From all of us at Bowne House, we wish our Flushing neighbors a joyous & safe New Year celebration!
Bowne House Wishes You a Happy New Year!
We are so grateful for your support and generosity this past year
2022 was an exciting year for Bowne House! It was the recipient of several state and national grants and awards. These funds will aid in important research work, as well as the preservation of both our collections and archives. Bowne House was also featured in numerous print and online publications.
Moving ahead into 2023, we will continue to educate visitors about American history and the story of the Bowne family through tours of Bowne House and in a series of creative programs. Our educators look forward to meeting you during the upcoming year!
Warm Holiday Wishes from the Bowne House!
Sunday, December 18, marks the start of the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, a tradition that originated in the second century B.C.E. The festival, its menorah, and its candle lighting ritual recall the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple. According to the Talmud, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day.
President George Washington, in his 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, referred to our citizens’ liberty of conscience and not just tolerance and further said:
May the Children of … Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.
Sunday, December 25, marks Christmas, a religious and cultural celebration dating back to approximately the third century A.D. that marks for some the end of Advent, and the Nativity, and for others, secular celebrations. The festival can last until the Twelfth Night. Christmas trees, lights, gift giving and cards are popular ways of celebrating the holiday.
We wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable Holiday season!
35th Annual Holly Tour
This December, Bowne House is thrilled to once again take part in the 35th Annual Flushing Holly Tour
Come take a trip through colonial and Victorian era Queens on Sunday, December 11th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The historic holiday house tour is an annual tradition featuring an afternoon of holiday cheer and historic tours. For the first time since 2019, we are returning to a live, in-person tour. Participating Sites are the Bowne House Historical Society, Kingsland Homestead (HQ of the Queens Historical Society), Flushing Quaker Meeting House, and the Voelker Orth Museum.
Bowne House Tour Times:
Please note, holiday tours of the house will be offered at the start of each hour. Visitors who arrive after a tour has begun must wait until the next tour to enter the home. Official Holly Tour ticket required for entry. Last entry at 4:15pm.
1st Tour starts at 1:00pm
2nd Tour starts at 2:00pm
3rd Tour starts at 3:00pm
4th Tour starts at 4:15pm