On the night of March 8, 1657, as a Nor’easter raged, a Dutch ship, The Prince Maurice slammed into the coast of Fire Island. Aboard were 129 souls – passengers, crew and Dutch West India Company soldiers.  Ashore were Indigenous people on their coastal night watch, listening to the ship crash against the shoal.

The New Amsterdam History Center’s Mapping Early NY project uncovered correspondence, ship manifests, and maps to pinpoint the shipwreck, and tell the story of the rescue on an ice-laden beach.

Kathryn Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation noted: “We are delighted to support projects that push the boundaries of history, culture, and the digital world.   The New Amsterdam History Center’s integration of 3D models, original documents, Encyclopedia, and maps is an entirely new way to experience the past.”

“This project follows in the footsteps of our recent 3D Model created for the New-York Historical Society’s installation New York Before New York: The Castello Plan, on view March 15 – July 14, 2024.   We invite you to travel to Long Island to experience these 3D environments illustrated by live speakers in May.  Later in June, the presentations also be available online.”, said Esme E. Berg, Executive Director

Richly illustrated with 3D models, interactive maps, and documents, a one-hour talk with Q & A to follow. This history can now be told thanks to a generous grant by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to extend Mapping Early NY to the tip of Long Island.

Join Presenters: Toya Dubin, Mapping Early NY Project Director and Drew Shuptar-Rayvis, Algonkian Historical Consultant in a presentation that includes interviews with experts.

Major Funding for this project provided by: Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, the First Families of New York, Ken Chase, and the supporters of the New Amsterdam History Center.

Tickets will be free of charge, but RSVP’s are required. Please visit our website to RSVP!