About Us

About Our Home

Built circa 1845 for $7,000, this building was originally the home of Benjamin Huntting II and his family. A leading citizen of Sag Harbor, Huntting was the owner of whaling ships, and made his fortune from the whale oil that was brought home on his ships.

To design his family's home, Huntting enlisted the prominent American architect Minard LaFever. LaFever incorporated exquisitely detailed plaster ceilings and carved wooden door frames inside, with the temple-fronted portico and ornate corinthian columns on the outside, to make this building a piece of artwork not to be missed.

After Huntting's death in 1867, the building was home to a number of different families until being purchased in 1908 by noted philanthropist Mrs. Russell Sage, who occupied it as a summer “cottage” until her death in 1918. In 1920 the building was purchased by the Masonic Lodge. The local historical society began exhibiting some of their artifacts on the ground floor shortly by the 1930s, and in 1945 the building was deeded to the museum. The Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum now owns the building, while the Masonic Lodge still uses the second floor as a Masonic Temple.

In 1975, the large front columns were refurbished and restored, the originals having lasted some 130 years.

In 1983, a boat shed was built to protect on the star attractions of the Museum - an actual whaleboat from the 1860s, said to have been aboard the Sag Harbor whaling ship Concordia.

In 2013, under the skillful leadership and direction of Board President Barbara Lobosco, the Museum began the most ambitious renovation of the Museum ever undertaken. After several years of fundraising efforts, the building was stripped of many layers of old paint using environmentally friendly methods and products, thoroughly inspected and necessary repairs made, and the entire exterior re-painted in time for opening day in 2016.

Preservation and restoration efforts continued under Ms. Lobosco’s successor, President Linley Pennebaker-Hagen who, starting in 2017, led the restoration efforts of the building’s interior, including repairs, renovations, the installation of new environmental control systems, as well as overseeing the completion of the first phase of our basement renovation, laying the groundwork for the eventual expansion of our programming and exhibit space.

Board and Staff

Board of Directors:

Mallon FitzPatrick - President
Bob Weinstein - Vice President

Ben Dixon - Treasurer
Annette Hinkle - Secretary

Michael Carroll

Molly Channing

Roger Cooper

Richard Doctorow

Peter Drakoulias

Linley P. Hagen

Kathie Russo

Bettina Stelle

Museum Manager: Jen Edwards

Director Emeritus: Richard Doctorow