On Staten Island’s waterfront at 2 Hylan Boulevard, the Alice Austen House is a historic home and museum devoted to the photographer’s life and work. Inside, see Austen’s photographs and rooms that tell her story, alongside exhibitions of contemporary art. The house also gives context to LGBTQ+ history: Austen shared her home with her partner, Gertrude Tate, for nearly 30 years. Outside, the grounds look across the water toward Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Verrazano Bridge, with space to pause after exploring the exhibits.
A home shaped over centuries
The house is also known as Clear Comfort. Its story began in the 1690s, when the original building was a one-room dwelling in the Dutch Colonial style. Alice Austen’s grandparents acquired the property in the nineteenth century. Her grandfather spent more than 25 years expanding and remodeling the farmhouse into the Victorian cottage that remains today.
Austen grew up at Clear Comfort and lived there for much of her life. She shared the home with Gertrude Tate for nearly three decades. Their life together is part of the site’s history, and in 2017 the house received national recognition as a place of LGBTQ+ history.
Photographs of everyday New York
Austen made thousands of photographs, mostly around the turn of the twentieth century. Her subjects included her own life on Staten Island as well as people and street scenes in Manhattan, including immigrants and working-class residents. The images give the museum a way to present New York through the people who lived and worked there.
The exhibitions explore Austen’s life and photography, with historic images displayed in the house. Her work also captured Victorian women in scenes that challenged the expectations of the era. The museum’s interpretation connects those photographs to Austen’s choices and experiences as a woman working in photography.
Historic rooms and contemporary art
The museum combines the house’s preserved character with exhibition space for contemporary art, including shows by women artists. A visit can move between rooms devoted to Austen and changing displays, so the building’s history sits alongside art made in the present.
The house is a cultural center as well as a historic site, with educational programs for students and public cultural programs. The focus extends beyond the photographs themselves to the life Austen made at Clear Comfort and the changing city she recorded.
The grounds and waterfront setting
The property sits beside the water on Staten Island, with views across the harbor toward parts of New York City and the Verrazano Bridge. The garden and lawn provide room to sit or walk after seeing the exhibits. The setting offers a quieter pause from the city’s busier areas, while keeping the waterfront in view.
Allow time outside as well as inside: the house’s location is part of the visit, and the grounds are a place to take in the harbor landscape. The museum is at 2 Hylan Boulevard in the Rosebank neighborhood of Staten Island.
FAQ
Where is the Alice Austen House?
It is at 2 Hylan Boulevard in the Rosebank neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City.
What can you see inside the Alice Austen House?
The museum presents Alice Austen’s photographs and exhibits about her life, alongside contemporary art exhibitions.
Why is the house significant to LGBTQ+ history?
Alice Austen shared the home with her partner, Gertrude Tate, for nearly 30 years. The house received national recognition as a site of LGBTQ+ history in 2017.
Can you visit the grounds without seeing the exhibits?
The grounds are a place to walk or sit by the waterfront, with views toward Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Verrazano Bridge. Check ahead for current museum access.
