Out of the Shadows: Thompson House Exhibit & Tour

Opening July 11, 2026, this special exhibit invites visitors to explore history firsthand with a tour of the Thompson House from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $7 per person and may be purchased at the door with either cash or credit card.

A new exhibit at the historic Thompson House in Setauket presents the story of the Thompson family during the Revolutionary War.

For more than a century, it has been accepted that the Thompson family fled British controlled Long Island for the relative safety of Connecticut. Yet, new discoveries reveal that they stayed in Setauket. For the first time, the family’s experiences during seven years of British occupation unfold.

Drawing from American and British accounts, the exhibit delves into the months preceding the British invasion of Long Island, and Jonathan (1710-1786) and Dr. Samuel Thompson’s (1738-1811) roles in support of the “Rights and Liberties of America.” The story of Captain Samuel Thompson’s actions during the Battle of Long Island is told, as well as the impact of General George Washington’s abandonment of the island.

A Culper spy letter points to British occupation of the Thompson House. A British officer describes Jonathan and Samuel’s responses at the Battle of Setauket. Spy communications and historical accounts describe the threats and violence inflicted on Setauket residents by British troops and Americans who considered Long Island “enemy territory.”

Call 631-751-2244 for more details.

This location is an official stop in the Suffolk County 250th Passport Book. Be sure to collect your stamp during the event.

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This event is made possible through the generous support of a grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.