.png)
Welcome to the
Bird Homestead & Meeting House Conservancy
A hands-on learning center nestled along the banks
of the Blind Brook Estuary in Rye, New York.
Our Mission
To promote an appreciation of historic preservation, art, science, and literature; inspired by the legacies of The Bird Family, William Voris, and the Rye Meeting House. Legacies of men and women who explored millions of years of history and circumnavigated the globe, through careers in biology & earth sciences to art & children’s literature, homesteading to hands-on learning, and entrepreneurship to environmentalism. Our goal is to provide visitors with endless opportunities to learn, engage, and ground themselves in an era when in-person human contact was not only how we connected, but what gave us purpose.
Our Vision
Our vision is to transform these three historic properties into a hands-on learning center for the entire community to benefit from.
Our Focus
To better understand the motivation behind the work we do, the following outlines each of the key legacies that give birth to our core focus at the Bird Homestead & Meeting House Conservancy.
The Legacies We Preserve
Historic Preservation
The passion for discovery that inspired the Bird family and drove them to the ends of the earth, combined with our passion to preserve the legacies of William Voris and the Birds, puts historical discovery and preservation at the heart of our mission.
Biology & Earth Sciences
Given the diversely passionate men of the Bird family, we struggle with how to qualify their contributions to science and human experience. But their adventures are too broad and their accomplishments too great to define in a single word. Biology refers to Henry Bird’s work in entomology and encompasses coastal ecology, which is a natural aspect of our properties and therefore, important part of our mission. Earth sciences provides the space for us to build on Roland and Junius’ paleontological and archaeological feats (respectively), through our own work in the discovery and preservation the past right here in Rye, New York.
Homesteading & Hands-On Learning
As preservationists, one of the most important things to know is the era to which you are trying to restore. At the Bird Homestead and Meeting House Conservancy, we are focused on the mid to late 19th century, when the Bird Family was in full bloom, William Voris was building his dynasty, and The Meeting House went by the name of Grace Chapel, an annex to Christ’s Church in downtown Rye. Making our educational programs "hands-on" is an intentional connection to the craftsmanship and care taken by the Bird Family and especially, Henry Bird, who was not only a world-renowned Entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History, but a studied and avid woodworker and horticulturist.
Entrepreneurship
William Voris not only built multiple lucrative business ventures from his home on Milton Road, he accomplished this in a time when most African Americans were still enslaved or in servitude to their white neighbors. While we know that Mr. Voris ran a saloon and inn on the property, we are still researching his other business ventures, including an ice cream shop that catered to New Yorkers summering near what is now Rye Playland.
The Properties
These 3 adjacent properties are owned by the City of Rye and operated by the non-profit, Bird Homestead & Meeting House Conservancy. In 2008, we worked with the city to purchase The Bird Homestead from the family in order to protect this rare slice of Rye history from development and to promote an interest in historic preservation and the legacies of the Bird Family. Two years later, in 2010, the City asked our committee to take over care of The Meeting House, which the City purchased in 2002 from the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), which is where its name comes from. Just north of the Meeting House was the site of William Voris’ home and business, which he operated beginning in 1841. As an African- American entrepreneur in pre-Civil War American, Mr. Voris’ story is as impressive as it is important to understanding our shared history. Our plan is to transform these properties into a hands-on center for learning; hosting educational events and providing in-depth coursework in history & the humanities. Our inaugural courses in paleontology, coastal ecology, and children’s literature are set to begin in April 2024.
The Bird Homestead
Just north of the Meeting House is a cluster of 19th-century farm buildings, which we lovingly refer to as The Bird Homestead. Home to many generations of the remarkable Bird Family. The modest Greek Revival house provides a rare glimpse of homestead
living with it’s working barn, woodworking shop, boathouse, and chicken coop. From this historic home, the extraordinary Bird Family embarked on adventures in art, science, literature and conservation that covered thousands of miles, delved millions of years back in time, and literally rewrote the history books.
The Meeting House
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Rye Meeting House on Milton Road was integral to the life of the surrounding village. Initially a one-room schoolhouse, it was moved to its present location in 1867 and transformed into an Episcopal chapel by Christ's Church. The South addition housed a reading room and circulating library. In 1959, it became a Meeting House for the Religious Society of Friends, giving it the name we know today. Today, the Meeting House is our main meeting space (seems appropriate) for all programs, events, and coursework. In addition to our free lecture series in the Spring and Fall, we began paid programming in Spring 2024, starting with our three inaugural courses in paleontology, coastal ecology, and children’s literature. The Meeting House is open most Saturdays and Sundays, so feel free to stop by for a visit. If you’d like to schedule a private tour of the properties and learn a bit more about our history and our future, email us at savethebird@icloud.com
William Voris Archaelogical Site
Nestled between these the Meeting House to the South and Bird Homestead to the North, are the original foundations of what we now call the William Voris Archaeological Site. An African American saloonkeeper and entrepreneur, William Voris owned and operated this land beginning in 1841, along with his mother and son. It was unusual and therefore, historically significant, for African Americans to own property before the Civil War, let alone achieve financial prosperity. In July 2024, we are conducting the third and final phase of the archaeological dig we started 4 years ago. Once completed, we will have enough information to create a self-guided walking tour of the Voris property, complete with interpretive signs telling the story of this important member of 19th century Milton Hamlet. There is still much for us to discover about this intrepid entrepreneur of the mid 19th century. To that end, we are offering research internships to High School and College students who have a passion for history and are interested in exploring a career in this space. If you are interested in participating in an internship, please email us at savethebird@icloud.com
Programs and Events
Throughout the year, we offer lectures, educational courses, and field trips that fulfill our mission and underscore our commitment to the community. All lectures are free and presented live at the Meeting House. Hands-on educational courses also held at The Meeting House and throughout the property. We host field trips for students from local and neighboring communities at the Conservancy, as well as field trips to nearby locales that can be attended by all ages. In addition, we host periodic events featuring speakers, acoustic concerts, fundraising events, and thank you parties for the community.
Spring Programming
Click here to view and register for current programs and events.
Meeting House Rental
Like its name suggests, The Meeting House is a wonderful spot for small family get togethers, low-key birthday parties, music recitals, and organizational off-sites. If you are interested in renting The Meeting House for a private event, please send us an email.
Come for a visit!
Open dawn til dusk every day, the property is ideal for short walks with friends
and your dog or getting away from it all without leaving town.
The Meeting House is open on weekends throughout the summer.
If you'd like to schedule a visit with one of our docents, send us an email or call (917) 371-1221.