Fishers Island

Fishers Island offers several ways to explore nature and history: the Henry L. Ferguson Museum features exhibits on the island’s Indigenous peoples and natural environment. Outside, museum trails run from the south side to the north side; other paths reveal the history of former brickyards or offer views of Block Island Sound. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on exhibits, wildlife observation, walks or a bike ride.

Museum: Natural History and Island Knowledge

The Charles B. Ferguson Archaeology Gallery at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum presents current knowledge about the Indigenous peoples of Fishers Island. In the Natural History Gallery, four marine dioramas showcase different habitats: seagrass meadows, rocky shores, sandy areas and salt marshes. Other exhibits cover oyster farming, recreational fishing, commercial fishing and geology. The topics range from habitats and natural history to fishing and its importance to the island.

The H.L. Ferguson Museum offers annual exhibitions, lectures, children’s programs and nature trails. Nature walks led by Terry McNamara and guest naturalists focus on birds and wild plants on Fishers Island. If you’re traveling with children or have a particular interest in nature, you can take these various offerings into account when choosing the kinds of outings that interest you.

Exploring on Foot or by Bike

The Henry L. Ferguson Museum’s land trust nature trails are intended for members of the Fishers Island community and visitors who want to go on nature walks and learn more about the island’s diverse flora and fauna. The museum trails run continuously from the south side to the north side and can be explored on foot.

Another option is the 4.2-mile recreational path maintained by the Fishers Island Recreational Path Foundation. It was built for cyclists and pedestrians and is open exclusively to pedestrians, strollers and bicycles. Electric bicycles are not permitted. If you’re traveling with a stroller or planning a bike ride, this specific access rule is an important distinction when choosing your activity. In your plans, the path is therefore not suitable for riding an electric bicycle.

Trails Offering a Glimpse into Island History

The Brickyard Pond Trail offers a chance to experience the history of Fishers Island on a walk. The trail is on a 15.5-acre site that was once home to one of the largest brickyards in the entire northeastern United States. The site’s former use gives this walk a different focus from the nature trails and recreational path: here, the history of the place is an explicit part of the experience.

The Clay Pit Trail passes the clay pits and leads to a large oak bench. From there, you can enjoy an unobstructed view across the pits toward Block Island Sound in the distance. Those who want to take in both the landscape and traces of past use on a walk will find a distinct focus here. The Brickyard Pond Trail and Clay Pit Trail can thus be distinguished by their main attractions: the former focuses on the history of a former brickyard, while the latter offers views across the clay pits to the Sound.

Discover More Places

St. James, Rocky Point, Holtsville, Copiague, Saltaire, East Marion, Bridgehampton and Holbrook.

For the broader travel overview: Suffolk.