Riverhead: Culture, History and Theater

Riverhead offers different ways to explore history, culture, and science. The Downtown Riverhead Historic Trail can be explored on foot or digitally, while the Suffolk Theater combines Art Deco architecture with concerts and cabaret. Other attractions include hands-on farming, railroad history, and interactive exhibits. If you’re looking for a hotel in Riverhead, these themes can help you find a destination that suits your interests. The sites differ not only in their themes but also in their formats: from walking tours and live performances to exhibits that require an appointment in advance.

History and Local Themes

You can explore the Downtown Riverhead Historic Trail on foot or virtually, using a computer or smartphone. Both ways of exploring follow the same historic trail, but differ in whether you discover it in person or on screen. If you’re interested in the area’s historical connections, you can discover Riverhead’s downtown history in different ways.

Hallockville Museum Farm combines historic significance with hands-on farming. The institution is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a landmark of the Town of Riverhead. In the fields, you can experience hands-on farming and see cows, sheep, and chickens. Here, historic status and agricultural activity go hand in hand: you can focus both on the site’s history and on the animals and work in the fields.

The Railroad Museum of Long Island has a different focus. It has locations in Greenport and Riverhead and is dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the Long Island Railroad. Its mission also includes educating the public about the importance and development of railroads on Long Island. The scope differs accordingly: the Downtown Trail focuses on Riverhead’s downtown history, while the museum looks at railroad history across Long Island.

Theater and Science

The restored Art Deco-style Suffolk Theater is located in the center of East Main Street. It first opened in 1933 and reopened in 2013 as a venue for major concerts and cabaret shows. These two dates mark different stages in the theater’s history: its initial opening was followed by its reopening as an event venue. If a particular performance is essential to your stay, check the event schedule in advance, as the program may change.

The Long Island Science Center’s pop-up area and exhibits are located in the Riverhead Tanger Outlet Center. They are open by appointment to school groups, birthday parties, and special events, so arrange your visit in advance. Interactive features include the augmented reality sandbox and virtual reality zone. In the sandbox, you can dig and build up a topographic landscape and create tunnels to move through. The virtual reality zone offers simulated experiences: swimming with manatees, encountering dinosaurs, and traveling through space and time. The formats differ in how you explore: in the sandbox, you shape a landscape, while the virtual reality zone opens up different worlds of experience.

The Peconic River and Downtown

The Peconic River provides a scenic backdrop for downtown Riverhead and the Town Park there. It also contributes to the outdoor events held there. The river landscape adds its own distinct element to the area’s cultural and historical themes: the river shapes both the view of downtown and the setting for the Town Park and its events.

Discover more destinations: Huntington, Quogue, Bridgehampton, Peconic, Bellport, St. James, Greenlawn, Wainscott.

Return to the broader travel overview: Suffolk.