Smithtown: Discover Nature and History

Smithtown offers several different ways to enjoy a stay: the history of a settlement founded by the Blydenburgh family in the 19th century, the habitats along the Nissequogue River, and a dated story surrounding a bronze statue. This makes the area interesting if you’re looking for more than just one kind of outing and want to weigh historical topics alongside nature. Three clear themes can help with planning: settlement history, landscape, and a personal tour of wildlife rehabilitation.

Settlement History and a Distinctive Monument

The settlement founded by the Blydenburgh family in the 19th century is located in the Blydenburgh Farm and New Mill Historic District in Blydenburgh County Park. This family origin gives the history a specific context: the focus is not just a vague historical reference, but a settlement with a named founding family. If you enjoy tracing how a place is connected to its early settlement, this is a vivid place to start. Tour dates may vary, so check the times in advance if you’d like to include a tour in your plans. This keeps the historical visit as a separate activity alongside the nature-focused attractions.

A second historical highlight is a 14-foot-tall, five-ton bronze statue of a bull. It was presented to the people of Smithtown on May 10, 1941. Its dimensions make the statue easy to picture, and the date marks a specific moment in the area’s history. Unlike the founding of a settlement, the presentation of the statue draws attention to a single event. Together, these offer two perspectives: a settlement founded by a family and an object presented to the people.

Habitats and a Personal Tour

The natural side of Smithtown comes into focus at Sweetbriar Nature Center. Its 54 acres encompass garden, woodland, field, and wetland habitats along the Nissequogue River. This combination provides a clear contrast with the historical themes: rather than focusing on a monument or settlement history, the emphasis here is on different habitat types. Garden, woodland, field, and wetland describe four distinct landscape types and bring the center’s connection to nature to life. If nature is important to your stay, you can treat this variety as a separate focus alongside local history.

A bookable 45-minute session includes a personal tour of the wildlife rehabilitation area at Sweetbriar Nature Center. This area is now called the Steven Goldman clinic. Advance reservations are required for the tour. The fixed duration helps with planning your day if you’re specifically interested in wildlife rehabilitation. The tour also has a different focus from an overview of the various habitats: it centers on the rehabilitation area, not a comparison of landscape types.

Which themes would you like to shape your stay?

Tour planning requirements also differ: the session at Sweetbriar Nature Center lasts 45 minutes and requires an advance reservation, while tour dates in the Blydenburgh Farm and New Mill Historic District may vary. This comparison can help you decide whether you’d prefer to plan a clearly defined activity or arrange your schedule around the tour times.

When searching for a vacation rental, you can start by considering which focus best matches your interests. Would you like to explore settlement history and the bull statue, or are you more interested in the habitats and the wildlife rehabilitation tour? This question offers a specific starting point for considering Smithtown as a destination for your family and planning a stay around the themes you’d like to discover together.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: East Quogue, Shelter Island Heights, Greenlawn, Aquebogue, Calverton, Ronkonkoma, Medford, Southold

For the full travel guide: Suffolk.