The Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages

The Long Island Museum (LIM) is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages with an understanding and enjoyment of American art, history and carriages as expressed through the heritage of Long Island and its diverse communities.  The museum has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1973 for excellence in exhibitions, programs and collection care.  In 2006 the museum joined a small group of institutions nationwide as a Smithsonian Affiliate.  

Local philanthropist Ward Melville, who was an active community and corporate leader established the museum with the help of his wife, Dorothy Bigelow Melville; prominent naturalist Robert Cushman Murphy; a well-regarded local doctor Winifred Curtis; and insurance broker O.C. Lempfert. The concept for a museum in Stony Brook originated when O.C. Lempfert, avid hunter and taxidermist, displayed his hunting trophies and specimens at friend Archie Rayner's home. When the Rayner home was sold in 1939, Curtis appealed for help from Mrs. Ward Melville to find a new location for the collection. Persuaded by Mrs. Melville, the collection was moved to an empty building known as the Stone Jug, owned by local pharmacist Charles J. Zimmerlein. The Little Museum in the Jug as it came to be called, was formally incorporated as the Suffolk Museum on December 28, 1939.

In 1948, Melville purchased the current property of nine acres, allowing for the expansion of the museum and its growing collections and accommodating his interest in horses and pleasure driving. The newly constructed Carriage House opened to visitors in 1951, containing 80 vehicles and related artwork. During the 1950s, a number of period buildings were moved to the museum's grounds, including the late 19-century Samuel H. West Blacksmith Shop, the one room Nassakeag Schoolhouse, and the Ploch-Williamson Barn.

The Board of Trustees approved a new name and concept for the Suffolk Museum after its 1973 AAM accreditation, adopting the name The Museums at Stony Brook to reflect a museum that had grown to be recognized by its three distinct collections—art, history, and carriages. As the collections continued to grow, the museum saw the construction of a new Art Museum in 1973, nd renovations to the historic D. T. Bayles Lumber Mill across the street in 1977, establishing the History Museum. The new Carriage Museum opened in 1987 and provided much needed storage and exhibition space for one of the largest and finest carriage collections in North America.

In 2000, the Museums at Stony Brook officially rebranded itself the Long Island Museum of American Art, History, and Carriages and is currently home to more than 600 paintings, including the largest collection of works by genre-painter William Sidney Mount; over 50,000 historic and household objects, including a large costume collection; and nearly 200 horse-drawn vehicles, the majority in original condition.