Tucked in among unremarkable homes, a short walk from the bustle of downtown, and block off busy Northern Blvd, is a neighborhood jewel. At first glance, the Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden just looks like a well maintained old house... because it is.
But its so much more as well. Donated as a museum by the granddaughter of the original owner, and now a historic city landmark, the Voelker Orth Museum is a time capsule to earlier days in Flushing, showcasing its lovely preserved parlor, and home library and terrariums, and its collection of Hummel figurines. House tours are held Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00pm or by special appointment, and tell of life in Queens 100+ years ago.
My favorite thing about Voelker Orth are the events. I have taken my children to the annual Honey Festival for the last three years, where we learn about bee-keeping and honey extraction, as well as sample the museum's own honey (which they also sell). We have also attended a terrarium making workshop, where every attendee got to make and take home their own mini ecosystem. The workshop was fun, and educational. At Halloween the museum hosted a not-too-spooky event that showcased a screening of old reel to reel film cartoons with ghoulish themes. The cartoons were fun, but it was also a wonderful educational opportunity for children of the instant digital era to experience and learn about the methods of the past. My husband's favorite are the annual Shakespeare performances. Pre-performance the production company, Hip to Hip, holds a quick acting clinic, such as how to perform a Shakespearean death scene, for any children in attendance, complete with a certificate of achievement "signed" by the Bard. This summer the performances will be The Tragedy of Kind Richard III and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The next family-friendly event they will be hosting is a Fairy House making workshop on July 10th, as part of their summer Garden Creativi-Tea series, which runs for five Wednesdays this summer. Each session is drop-in, so no need to attend all (but they are each pretty awesome!)
The Museum is, as its name suggests, a bird sanctuary. The modest yard, though large for its immediate neighborhood, is designed to emulate the Victorian gardens of days gone by. It features a traditional kitchen garden of herbs, several Catawba grape vines, and a small fish pond, all which make it the perfect place for local birds to nest. At least four different species of birds call the museum grounds home, with several others stopping by regularly. The gardens and pond are beautiful and relaxing and the well kept lawn is open to children playing and enjoying during family events - a treat for apartment dwellers.
Many people, even those living only a few blocks away, or the hundreds of thousands of people passing on nearby Northern Blvd, have no idea this wonderful museum exists. At 149 St it is a long, but pleasant walk from Main Street station. It truly is a hidden jewel.
