Museums, Programs, Historic Sites
Alice Austen House
The Alice Austen House fosters creative expression, explores personal identity, and educates and inspires the public through the interpretation of the photographs, life and historic home of pioneering American photographer, Alice Austen (1866-1952).
Elizabeth Alice Austen spent most of her 86 years in her home, Clear Comfort, in an area of Staten Island near where the Verrazano Narrows Bridge is now standing. When she was 10, her uncle gave her a camera. There was a lot to see and photograph where Alice lived. After all, most of the ships of the world carried products and people in and out of the harbor past her house. Alice began to record with photography the lifestyle of the people in New York, along the East Coast, in Chicago and even in Europe. With her photos she documented a way of life that we have now lost.
A collection of her works is housed permanently on site. Much of this collection includes the waters near Clear Comfort on Staten Island set in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Program Description:
Special exhibits and programs are scheduled during the season. A number of educational programs for K–12 and seniors are also available. For more information please visit the website.