Rock Hall Museum

Rock Hall is open for tours BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call the museum office at (516) 239-1157 for a reservation. The maximum group size for appointments is 8 visitors.  Museum grounds are open daily until 4 p.m.

One of the finest pre-Revolutionary War homes on Long Island, Rock Hall was built in 1767 for Josiah Martin, a wealthy West Indian plantation owner. The Georgian-style home belonged to only two families, the Martins and Hewletts. In 1948, the Hewlett family deeded Rock Hall to the Town of Hempstead. After an extensive restoration, it opened as a museum in 1953.  Rock Hall is a fully-furnished 18th-century house museum that offers a guided tour, programs of historic interest, special lectures, and an educational program for students. Visit the museum’s cellar. The Warming Kitchen, Cold Storage Room, and Wine Cellar offer fascinating views of the rarely seen working areas in an 18th-century plantation-style home. Also located in the cellar is the museum’s ongoing Archaeology Exhibit Room. There you will see a display of 18th and 19th-century artifacts that continue to be uncovered during ongoing excavations at Rock Hall.  

Find more information about the Rock Hall Museum in the Facilities Module.

A Note of Historical Significance! 

Visit the Friends of Rock Hall website! Be a part of history and join The Friends of Rock Hall (A 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization). “The Friends of Rock Hall” is an independent charitable non-profit organization that works closely with the Town of Hempstead museum to sponsor certain programs of interest. “The Friends” also raises funds to purchase furnishings and to sponsor historic research. Memberships are available starting at $25 per individual, with paid members entitled to program and Museum Gift Shop discounts. Membership includes free admission for all lectures.

Program Registration

Please register for programs in advance by calling (516) 239-1157. Museum space is limited. Make checks payable to the “Friends of Rock Hall.” The museum accepts payments and memberships with Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Reservations are only confirmed with receipt of full payment. Program events are hosted and sponsored by the Town of Hempstead and Friends of Rock Hall.