Information
Landmark: Conference House ParkCity: Staten Island
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Conference House Park, Staten Island, USA New York, North America
Overview
At Staten Island’s southern tip, in the Tottenville neighborhood, Conference House Park blends rich history with sweeping views of the bay.Covering about 265 acres, it blends historic landmarks, winding trails through varied scenery, and spaces for play, making it one of Staten Island’s most treasured parks.The park’s centerpiece is the Conference House, a weathered stone home also called the Billopp House.Captain Christopher Billopp, a British naval officer and staunch Loyalist, built this sturdy stone mansion around 1680; its weathered walls still stand as one of the few remaining pieces of colonial architecture in the area.On September 11, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, the house gained fame as the site of the Peace Conference, where anxious voices echoed through its wooden halls.British Admiral Lord Richard Howe sat down with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Edward Rutledge, hoping to hammer out a peaceful end to the conflict.In the end, the talks collapsed, and the war marched on, smoke curling over ruined streets.Restoration and Museum: The Conference House now mirrors its 18th‑century charm, from worn wooden floors to tall shuttered windows, and welcomes visitors as a public museum.Guided tours walk visitors through the building’s colonial past, pausing at the room where the 1776 peace talks took place.The house holds National Historic Landmark status and appears on the National Register of Historic Places, its old oak door still worn smooth by decades of use.The park also features several historic homes, including the Biddle House, a Greek Revival residence built around 1845 with tall white columns framing its porch.The Ward House, built around 1830, showcases classic Federal-style design with crisp, symmetrical lines.Rutan-Beckett House, built around 1850, shows off a Victorian style with tall windows and ornate trim.These buildings help shape the park’s historic feel, adding layers of meaning to Staten Island’s story-like the creak of old wooden steps that hint at lives once lived here.Conference House Park safeguards a rich mix of habitats, from shady woodlands and open meadows to wind‑shaped dunes, clay bluffs, freshwater wetlands, and the quiet shoreline that edges Raritan Bay.The park’s mix of wetlands, forests, and rocky slopes teems with plants and animals, turning it into a rich and irreplaceable ecological haven.Tucked inside the park is Burial Ridge, once used by the Lenape people and known as the largest prehistoric Native American burial ground in New York City, where weathered earth still holds stories centuries old.Digging into the earth uncovered human bones and tools more than 8,000 years old, some still dusted with dry, crumbling soil.In 2021, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission named part of the park the Aakawaxung Munahanung Archaeological Site, safeguarding a place rich in cultural history where shells still crunch underfoot.Almer G. offers recreation and amenities, from quiet garden benches to lively community games.Russell Pavilion was first built in 1935, named in honor of a local World War I veteran, and in 2021 it stood gleaming again after a $6.5 million restoration.This open-air structure has a slate roof, ornate trim, and a clear view of Raritan Bay where sunlight glints off the water.People use it for community events, concerts, weddings, and all sorts of gatherings-sometimes you can smell fresh flowers drifting in from a nearby celebration.The Visitor Center sits inside a 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival building, where you can browse park exhibits, pick up maps, and find the offices of the Conference House Association and NYC Parks Department.More than 2.5 miles of walking and biking trails wind through the park’s wild spaces, inviting you to hike shaded paths, watch herons glide over the marsh, and take in the sparkling waterfront.The park has two playgrounds, one of them the Lenape Playground, named to honor the Native Americans who first called this land home.These spaces are built with kids in mind, from toddlers clutching crayons to teens sprawled across beanbags.Picnic and Open Spaces: Spread out a blanket in the picnic area or wander into the wide, green fields-perfect for games, lounging in the sun, or simply unwinding.You’ll find the park at 7455 Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, NY 10307, easy to reach by car or on public transit-hop on a Staten Island bus, or ride the railway and connect with a bus or taxi.You can park right here on the property, just steps from the front door.The park opens at first light and closes as the sun slips below the trees, every day of the week.At the Conference House museum, you can join a tour Friday through Sunday, usually between 1 and 4 in the afternoon, with full-price tickets for adults and discounted rates for seniors and students.You can walk right into the park without paying a dime.The Conference House museum asks a small admission fee, helping keep its old stone walls cared for and its programs running.Conference House Park blends Revolutionary War history with fascinating archaeological finds and quiet stretches of preserved woods.It provides educational programs, inviting recreation spots, and views of the harbor, making it a treasured cultural and environmental asset for Staten Island and New York City.In one sprawling park, visitors can step inside the historic house where early peace talks unfolded, wander miles of winding trails, and breathe in the fresh air along the quiet waterfront.
