Art Parks Close-To-Me

Long Island Art Parks: Nassau County Museum & LongHouse Reserve

2026-01-02

Long Island Art Parks: Hidden Gems Beyond the City

Long Island offers two exceptional sculpture park experiences that most New Yorkers overlook: Nassau County Museum of Art's expansive FREE grounds and LongHouse Reserve's intimate Hamptons estate. Both provide museum-quality outdoor collections without Manhattan crowds, making them perfect for day trips or weekend escapes.

Nassau County Museum of Art (Roslyn Harbor)

Distance from NYC: 25 miles (45-60 minutes)
Admission: 100% FREE for grounds; museum $12 adults
Hours: Grounds 9am-dusk daily; Museum Tues-Sun 11am-4:45pm (CLOSED Mondays)

Why Visit

Nassau County Museum transforms a 145-acre Gold Coast estate into Long Island's premier sculpture park—completely free to explore. More than 40 works dot the formal gardens, woodlands, and meadows, creating unexpected art encounters throughout the landscape.

The collection emphasizes monumental contemporary and modern sculpture, with pieces positioned to interact with the natural setting. Walk past Roy Lichtenstein's bold geometric forms, discover Auguste Rodin bronzes in forested clearings, and encounter works by de Kooning, Noguchi, and other masters scattered across the grounds.

Beyond sculpture, the estate itself tells Nassau County's Gilded Age story. The Tudor Revival mansion (housing the museum galleries) once belonged to Henry Clay Frick's son, and the manicured gardens reflect that era's landscape architecture. Today, the 145 acres include:

  • Formal Gardens: Geometric beds with seasonal plantings + sculpture
  • Woodland Trails: Sculptures nestle among mature trees
  • Open Meadows: Large-scale works with breathing room
  • Historic Architecture: 1920s mansion + outbuildings

What Makes It Special

100% Free Grounds Access. While the indoor museum charges admission, the sculpture park remains completely free. Park, walk the grounds, and experience world-class art without cost.

Year-Round Beauty. Each season offers different perspectives—spring blooms, summer green, fall foliage, winter structure. The grounds stay accessible 9am-dusk every day (note: museum building closed Mondays).

Family-Friendly. Wide paths, open spaces, and the treasure-hunt nature of finding sculptures make this perfect for kids. Bring a picnic (grounds allow it) and make an afternoon of art + nature.

Museum Add-On. If paying $12 for museum access, you'll see rotating exhibitions in multiple galleries plus the permanent collection. But honestly? The outdoor sculpture justifies the visit alone.

Visiting Tips

  • Arrive early (9-10am) for parking and fewer crowds on weekends
  • Bring comfortable shoes - you'll walk miles exploring
  • Pack a picnic - grounds allow outdoor dining
  • Check museum calendar for special exhibitions and events
  • Plan for 2-3 hours minimum to explore grounds thoroughly
  • Photography welcome but respect posted restrictions

Address: 1 Museum Dr, Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576
Phone: (516) 484-9338
Getting There: LIRR to Roslyn, then taxi/rideshare; or drive (ample free parking)

LongHouse Reserve (East Hampton)

Distance from NYC: 100 miles (2-2.5 hours)
Admission: $15 general; $10 students/seniors
Hours: Wed-Sat 2pm-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm (April-September); CLOSED winters (Jan-March)
Note: 2026 winter closure Jan 5 - March 20

Why Visit

LongHouse Reserve represents the Hamptons at its most cultured—a 16-acre estate curated by the late textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen into an intimate outdoor museum. Unlike Nassau County's sprawling grounds, LongHouse feels personal and intentional, with every sculpture placement carefully considered.

The collection focuses on contemporary sculpture and land art, with works by major artists including:

  • Yoko Ono: Conceptual installations
  • Dale Chihuly: Glass sculpture integration
  • Buckminster Fuller: Geometric structures
  • Willem de Kooning: Bronze works

But LongHouse transcends a simple sculpture collection. Larsen designed the reserve as a "living laboratory" where art, architecture, and landscape merge. The 16 acres include:

  • Amphitheater: Outdoor performance space for events
  • Water Gardens: Reflecting pools + aquatic sculptures
  • Woodland Paths: Sculptures emerge from forest settings
  • Larsen's Residence: The house itself serves as architectural art

Seasonal Programming

Member Mornings (exclusive early access for members)
LongHouse Illuminated (special evening events with lighting)
Artist Talks & Lectures (regular programming during season)
Garden Workshops (horticultural education)

What Makes It Different

Intimate Scale. Where Nassau County sprawls across 145 acres, LongHouse condenses excellence into 16. You'll see every sculpture in a single visit, allowing deeper engagement with individual works.

Hamptons Setting. The East Hampton location makes this perfect for combining with beach days, winery visits, or farm-to-table dining. It's not just an art park—it's part of a larger Hamptons cultural experience.

Curatorial Vision. Jack Lenor Larsen's influence remains evident throughout. This isn't random sculpture placement but a unified artistic vision where landscape design equals the sculpture in importance.

Exclusive Feel. Limited hours and seasonal closure (winters off) create scarcity that enhances appreciation. This isn't an everyday park but a special-occasion destination.

Visiting Tips

  • Reserve ahead if visiting peak summer weekends
  • Time your visit - Wed-Sat 2-5pm, Sun 12-5pm are the ONLY hours
  • Closed winters - Check calendar before traveling (Jan-March typically closed)
  • Combine with Hamptons activities - this is a 2-3 hour experience, plan other East End adventures
  • Member benefits include early access via Member Mornings
  • Photography welcome - the grounds beg to be documented

Address: 133 Hands Creek Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937
Phone: (631) 329-3568
Email: info@longhouse.org
Getting There: Drive (2-2.5 hours from NYC); Hampton Jitney to East Hampton + taxi

Nassau vs. LongHouse: Which to Choose?

Choose Nassau County Museum If You Want:

  • Free admission to sculpture grounds
  • Larger scale exploration (145 acres vs. 16)
  • Closer to NYC (45 min vs. 2+ hours)
  • Year-round access (grounds open daily)
  • Family-friendly setting with picnic options
  • Indoor museum galleries as an add-on option

Choose LongHouse Reserve If You Want:

  • Hamptons experience with cultural sophistication
  • Intimate curation and unified artistic vision
  • Special seasonal programming and events
  • Smaller, focused collection you can fully absorb
  • Combining with beach/wine/dining in the Hamptons
  • Exclusive, special-occasion feel

Or Do Both!

Perfect Long Island Art Weekend:

Saturday: Nassau County Museum (morning) → North Shore beaches/towns (afternoon) → overnight in Glen Cove or Oyster Bay
Sunday: Drive to Hamptons → LongHouse Reserve (afternoon) → beach time → farm-to-table dinner → return to NYC

This itinerary combines FREE sculpture at Nassau with Hamptons culture at LongHouse, plus beach time and excellent North Fork/Hamptons dining.

Getting There from NYC

Nassau County Museum (Roslyn Harbor)

Driving:

  • Queens-Midtown Tunnel → LIE East → Exit 39N → Northern Blvd
  • Time: 45-75 minutes depending on traffic
  • Parking: Free on-site

Transit:

  • LIRR to Roslyn Station ($12-18 off-peak)
  • Taxi/Uber from station (~5 min, $10-15)
  • Total time: 75-90 minutes

LongHouse Reserve (East Hampton)

Driving:

  • Queens-Midtown Tunnel → LIE all the way east → Montauk Hwy
  • Time: 2-2.5 hours (can hit 3+ hours with summer Friday traffic!)
  • Parking: On-site parking available

Hampton Jitney:

  • Luxury coach from NYC ($40-50 round-trip)
  • Multiple daily departures in summer
  • Stops in East Hampton; cab to LongHouse
  • Total time: 3-3.5 hours

Pro Tip: If visiting LongHouse in summer, leave NYC before 1pm Friday or after 11am Saturday to avoid brutal eastbound LIE traffic.

Make a Weekend of It

Budget North Shore Trip

Base: Roslyn/Glen Cove
Saturday: Nassau County Museum + North Shore beaches
Sunday: Oyster Bay, Sagamore Hill, local restaurants
Cost: $150-250/person (hotel + food)

Luxury Hamptons Weekend

Base: East Hampton or Sag Harbor
Saturday: Beach morning + LongHouse afternoon + farm-to-table dinner
Sunday: Winery tour + beach + return to NYC
Cost: $500-1000+/person (luxury hotel + fine dining)

Best of Both

Saturday: Nassau County AM + drive out east + Hamptons PM
Sunday: LongHouse + beach + return
Cost: $300-600/person depending on lodging choice

Bottom Line

Long Island's sculpture parks prove world-class outdoor art isn't limited to upstate New York or distant destinations. Nassau County Museum offers FREE, year-round sculpture in a magnificent Gold Coast setting 45 minutes from Manhattan. LongHouse Reserve provides intimate, curated excellence in the Hamptons with seasonal exclusivity.

Whether you're seeking a quick free day trip (Nassau) or a special Hamptons cultural experience (LongHouse), Long Island delivers museum-quality sculpture without Manhattan hassles.

Ready to explore? Nassau County requires no reservations and costs nothing for grounds access. LongHouse needs advance checking for seasonal hours. Both reward visitors with art, nature, and that rare combination of accessibility and excellence.

Updated January 2026. LongHouse closed Jan 5 - March 20, 2026. Nassau County grounds open daily 9am-dusk. Verify hours before visiting.