The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) celebrates the opening of Saltwater Stories: We Need the Sea and the Sea Needs Me, its first new permanent exhibit in more than a decade. This immersive experience honors the people, traditions and communities that make Long Island unique.
Saltwater Stories dives deep into the region’s maritime heritage, drawing inspiration from over 15 years of LICM programs that highlighted the lives and practices of local tradition bearers such as baymen, fishermen and indigenous artists. The exhibit is a culmination of years of collaboration and connection, reflecting the authenticity and diversity of Long Island’s coastal identity.
“This exhibit is an exciting celebration of Long Island’s maritime culture – a core part of who we are!, explains LICM President Erika Floreska. “It gives visitors of all ages a chance to connect with a cultural richness that defines Long Island in a playful, hands-on way.”
From the stories of generations of baymen to the bustling fish markets of the Nautical Mile, Saltwater Stories offers hands-on, family-friendly experiences rooted in the everyday lives of Long Islanders past and present. The exhibit also highlights the connections between the traditions of immigrant communities who share seaside cultures, offering opportunities for shared experiences and dialogue.
In the 1,900-sq-ft exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to:
- Role-play life on the bay in a walk-in replica of a Long Island Bay House, which features a “magic window” enabling visitors to observe changing weather and tides in a tidal marsh.
- Work together in a classic Long Island Fish Market: unloading the daily catch from the fishing boat docked outside, sorting fish or selling them at the checkout station.
- Explore Lifting the Ocean’s Lid, an immersive early learner area that lets children get up and close with what lives under the sea.
- Climb into a 10-foot, 500-pound hand-carved mishoon (Indigenous dugout canoe) and discover how it honors the region’s original navigators and their enduring relationship with the sea. This section of the exhibit features the video of Billy Joel’s “The Downeaster ‘Alexa’,” the unofficial anthem of commercial fishing.
- See many ways Long Islanders engage with the waters around the island on a 20’ long interactive Story Map mural.
Visitors are welcomed to the exhibit by a 9-foot-high immersive, stylized wave tunnel. Visible from the three entries to the second floor of the Museum, this wow-moment hooks you into the gallery and recreates many people’s first introduction to the sea – a day at the beach. Lighting and sound effects create a transportive transition into Saltwater Stories.
Visitors are guided through the exhibit using play prompts—clearly marked, easy-to-read cues that help caregivers engage their children in playful, meaningful ways throughout the experience.
Handwritten notes and sketches inspired by real bay house families and fish market workers anchor the experience for visitors. Rooted in authentic oral histories and local traditions, these elements transform personal memories into tangible experiences. Visitors don’t just learn history—they step into it, connecting emotionally with the everyday lives of those who work and live along the Great South Bay.
For those eager to explore further, “Salty Solutions” graphics spotlight local individuals and initiatives dedicated to protecting Long Island’s waterways, bridging past and present through stories of environmental stewardship. Featured individuals include inspiring figures like former WNBA player and 18th-generation Long Islander Sue Wicks, who now runs a sustainable kelp farm and advocates for marine conservation in the region.
In partnership with a wide-ranging group of experts—from scientists and historians to local fish market owners and members of Indigenous communities — Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) has ensured this exhibit reflects the true essence of Long Island’s maritime culture.
Through these collaborations, LICM offers families a chance to connect with the island’s rich traditions, strengthening their sense of place and the shared stories that bind our communities together.
“We are so proud to bring a new permanent exhibit to LICM that showcases what makes Long Island truly unique,” said Scott Burman, President of the LICM Board of Trustees. “Saltwater Stories is more than an exhibit — it’s a gift to our community, celebrating our rich coastal heritage while inspiring the next generation to protect it. It is a meaningful investment in Long Island’s future.”
Saltwater Stories opens Saturday, October 11 with a three-day celebration that invites visitors to connect with local fisherfolk, engage in educational activities for all ages, and explore the deep-rooted traditions of our coastal communities. The long weekend’s festivities (October 11-13) feature storytelling sessions, artisan demonstrations and craft-making that highlights the region’s seafaring history. Serving as the official kickoff, the event launches a series of monthly programs delving into the impact of maritime life on disciplines such as art, science, literature, and cultural heritage.
Saltwater Stories was made possible by the generous support of these major donors: Institute of Museum and Library Services, New York State Senate, New York State Assembly, Nassau County, the Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation, Vineyard Offshore, RXR, Ørsted, the Dubb Family, Roni Kohen-Lemle & Robert S. Lemle, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Humanities New York, 2025 LICM Board of Directors, and the National Maritime Heritage Grant administered by the National Park Service and distributed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Located at: 11 Davis Ave.
Garden City, NY 11530
About the Long Island Children’s Museum (www.licm.org)
The mission of Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) is to connect all our communities’ chldren, and those who care for them, to a life of wonder, imagination and exploration. At LICM, children discover their passions and their relationship to the world we share. The 40,000-square-foot museum serves over 300,000 children and adults annually. The private, not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers museum-based educational programs and cultural experiences, as well as an extensive community outreach program offered in schools, libraries and youth centers across Long Island. Additionally, the Children’s Museum operates the historic Nunley’s Carousel in association with Nassau County, one of three intact Stein & Goldstein carousels still in existence.
Recognized with several honors, including the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), LICM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the gold standard of museum excellence. It is currently the only accredited children’s museum in New York State and is one of only 16 accredited children’s museums nationwide. LICM has earned 4-stars on Charity Navigator and has Platinum Transparency on Candid.