Home > Suffolk County Culture & History > Long Island Heritage Trail Several historic sites and museums await visitors traveling along the Suffolk County portion of the Long Island Heritage Trail running primarily through the scenic hills and quaint villages along Rte. 25A on the North Shore.

Start out in Cold Spring Harbor, on the western end of Suffolk County and visit the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, where you’ll find exhibits on whaling and maritime life. Shop the shops and boutiques of this waterfront village.

Continue east into Huntington where you’ll find the Heckscher Museum of Art, including more than 2,000 works from Renaissance masters to contemporary artists. The art museum  features continually changing exhibits, along with a permanent exhibit. Nearby is the Huntington Militia Arsenal, open Sundays only, and the Huntington Historical Society Museums, including the Dr. Daniel Kissam House and the David Conklin farmhouse (circa 1750). Also visit the Huntington Arts Council, which offers art programs for the community.

From Huntington, take a small diversion north and visit the Joseph Lloyd Manor House, home of Jupiter Hammon, the first African-American published poet. Near there is the mansion and grounds of Caumsett State Park, once home to Marshall Field (the department store magnate). Also in this area north of Huntington is Coindre Hall, a spectacular harbor front Suffolk County-owned castle. Walk the grounds; also available for events/catering.

A diversion south of Huntington Village brings you to the home of Walt Whitman, where his birthplace and an interpretive center tell the story of this amazing poet’s life. The Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site and Interpretive Center includes Whitman’s papers, desk and recordings of his voice, among other displays.

Further east along Rte. 25A into Centerport is the magnificent estate of William K. Vanderbilt, overlooking Northport Harbor. Take a house tour, visit the natural history museum, or take in an evening sky show performance in the planetarium. This is just one of several mansions and arboretums in Suffolk County.

Continuing east along 25A, with a slight diversion north, is Northport Village. This harborfront town includes great shops and restaurants, along with the Northport Historical Society and Museum. Stroll the streets and waterfront where novelist and poet Jean-Louis " Jack" Kerouac lived for a while.

Continue east, taking a stop at Sunken Meadow State Park beach for a swim in the calm waters of the Long Island Sound, or for a refreshing stroll along the boardwalk.
Continue on to Smithtown and the historic Caleb Smith House (circa 1819) or the historic Mills Pond House, also home to the Smithtown Township Arts Council. Stop at the St. James General Store, where you’ll find toys, candy, books and gifts. Smithtown contains more parks than any other township on Long Island. Also here is the Nissequogue River State Park and Caleb Smith State Park.

Further east along Rte. 25A is Stony Brook, where you’ll find quaint shops and restaurants in the Village Center, along with the Long Island Museum of Art, History and Carriages containing the largest collection of carriages in the United States. Also here is the Stony Brook Grist Mill. Take a scenic cruise with the Discovery Wetlands Cruise, or see a performance at the Staller Center. There are several history and heritage  sites along the way.

And just a little further east in the Village of Port Jefferson, a bustling port village with lots of shops, restaurants and a village center with events and exhibits. Also in the village is Theater Three, one of many theaters in Suffolk County. Nearby is the Mather House Museum, the 19th century home of shipbuilder John Mather, featuring maritime exhibits and period furnishings.