The Bowne House Restoration Fact Sheet 2007

Mission:
The Bowne House Historical Society, Inc. owns and operates the Bowne House in Flushing, Queens. The Society’s mission includes the preservation of the house, its collections and grounds for its historical and educational interest, for its significance to the history of New York City and for its importance in the establishment of the fundamental principles of freedom of conscience and religious liberty.

History and Significance to New York City:
Bowne House was built in 1661 by John Bowne, whose courageous stand in defense of religious freedom, resulting in his arrest and imprisonment by Governor Peter Stuyvesant, helped establish the principles later codified in the Bill of Rights. The Bowne House and its message are quite possibly unique in America. There are few house museums which date from the 17th century. The house itself is the best-preserved example of Anglo-Dutch residential architecture in the country and it continues to occupy its original site. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated New York City Landmark.

A microcosm of 300 years of social, cultural and political history, Bowne House is the oldest house in Queens and one of the oldest in the City. It was occupied by nine generations of the same family, whose offspring included prominent businessmen, politicians, educators, abolitionists and horticulturalists.

Community Programs; Audience Served:
Flushing has always been known for its ethnic diversity; it remains a melting pot of many groups. The museum attracts visitors from all over the world. Volunteers have conducted tours for more than 50 years; the museum and its message have been important to generations of schoolchildren, scholars, and other visitors. Bowne House is part of the "Flushing Freedom Mile", which is composed of a number of local sites of historical significance.

Statement of Need:
The Bowne House needs to be physically restored before it can be reopened to the general public. The Society has raised $700,000 in the form of cash and pledges from private sources to secure the future of the museum. These pledges will enable us to 1. Join the Historic House Trust of New York, an umbrella organization working the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to preserve and promote historic sites throughout the city. 2. allow access to over $3,000,000 in public funds earmarked for the restoration and held pending our affiliation with the Trust. 3. Resume our restoration project, which will continue for several years and cost in excess of $2,500,000.

Renewal of the Museum:
Longer term, we plan to raise additional funds to restore our collections and our period landscaping, expand our educational mission and reopen the museum to the general public for tours. We are also planning to rehabilitate our annex building to incorporate offices, an orientation center, exhibition space, and handicap access restrooms. Work on this project should begin early in 2007.