Join Oyster Bay Historical Society director Philip Blocklyn on a leisurely walking tour of Oyster Bay on Saturday, Aug. 13, featuring the historic sites along East and West Main streets, Audrey Avenue and South Street in the heart of the hamlet.
The live walking tours were created to provide a more personal and interactive experience. Oyster Bay’s self-guided walking tours aren’t as engaging as the live tours, according to Blocklyn.
Each tour is unique and geared toward what interests participants. Blocklyn almost always highlights landmarks like The Printery, Town Hall, Hood A.M.E. Zion Church, Matinecock Lodge, Oyster Bay Bank Building, Moore’s Building, Snouder’s, Raynham Hall and East Street churches. He has also brought his tour to locations like the Fort Hill and Baptist cemeteries depending on what people want to see.
Participants are encouraged to interact with each other while on the tour to enhance their experience.
“For folks who live here, it’s an opportunity to learn one new thing or to share their own knowledge with others on the tour,” said Blocklyn. “For folks from far away, they get the chance to look behind the screen of history for an hour.”
Blocklyn also believes that the tour provides a nice break from the civic issues community members have to deal with on a daily basis, offering an uninterrupted hour of diving into the rich and fascinating history of Oyster Bay.
The tour begins at 3 p.m., leaving from the Oyster Bay Historical Society, 20 Summit St., in Oyster Bay. The tour is $15 per adult and $5 per teen ages 12-17, with advance registration required. The tour will also be held three more times this year, in September, October and November.
For more details, or to make a reservation, contact the Oyster Bay Historical Society at 516-922-5032 or email www.obhsdirector@optonline.net.
