Bowne House | Queens

The Bowne House is one of the most historically important structures in New York City. Located at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, Queens, it was built around 1661 and has stood as a symbol of religious freedom, abolitionism, and American colonial heritage for over 360 years.

Origins and Founding

Built by John Bowne, an English Quaker who immigrated to Flushing in the mid-17th century. The area was then part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland.

At the time, the Dutch West India Company prohibited any religion outside the Dutch Reformed Church. In defiance, John Bowne allowed Quaker meetings in his home.

For this act, he was arrested in 1662 and exiled to Holland. There, he appealed his case to the Dutch West India Company and won.

His victory led to the Dutch authorities affirming religious tolerance in their American colony—a foundational moment for religious freedom in the future United States.

Architecture

The Bowne House is built in a style known as Anglo-Dutch Colonial, a rare example in New York City.

Originally constructed of hand-hewn timbers and local materials, it has a steep roof, small-paned windows, and clapboard siding.

The house was expanded multiple times in the 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting both growth in the Bowne family and shifts in architectural styles.

Despite modernization in surrounding Flushing, the house has remained largely intact in its original form.

Family Legacy and Generations

The Bowne family lived in the house for nine generations, from the 1660s until 1945.

Members of the family were deeply involved in civic life, religion, social justice, and the abolitionist movement.

The house contains thousands of documents and objects from over three centuries of daily life, providing a rare continuous record.

Role in the Abolitionist Movement

The Bowne House was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Family members including Samuel, Robert, and William Bowne Parsons helped enslaved people escape to freedom.

These men corresponded with key abolitionists like Simeon Jocelyn and Lewis Tappan, showing the family’s deep commitment to anti-slavery work.

In 2021, the house was officially recognized and admitted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the National Park Service, making it the first site in Queens to receive that designation.

Museum and Collections

Since 1947, the Bowne House has functioned as a historic house museum. It contains:

Over 5,000 artifacts, including:

18th- and 19th-century furniture, textiles, tools, and decorative arts

Letters, books, and personal papers from the Bowne and Parsons families

Items related to daily life, religion, and social activism

These materials provide insight into:

Domestic life from the 17th through the 20th century

Evolution of religious and social values in America

Local and national reform movements, especially Quaker-led initiatives

Visiting the Bowne House

Address: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354

Public Tours: Available Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM

Admission Fees:

Adults: $10

Students: $8

Youth (under 14): $5

Located near the Flushing–Main Street subway station and several bus lines.

Community and Educational Programs

Offers school programs, lectures, and seasonal events focusing on:

Colonial life and craftsmanship

Religious tolerance in early America

The Underground Railroad and Civil Rights

Collaborates with local schools, historical societies, and preservation groups to promote public history.

Legacy

The Bowne House is not only a rare architectural survivor of the colonial era—it is also a living symbol of the values that helped shape America: religious freedom, civil disobedience, community engagement, and justice. Its impact extends far beyond Queens, representing a powerful legacy in the history of democracy and human rights in the United States.