Bay House Tour

Each year Long Island Traditions sponsors a bay house tour in Freeport. Bay houses are small shacks that stand on the marshlands that were originally built in the 1700 and 1800s by fishermen, baymen and duck hunters for shelter while they harvested clams, salt hay or went duck hunting.

Through the years they have been passed down among their families. During the 1940s – 1960s other residents built bay houses as weekend getaways; by 1965 there were over 200 bay houses. In 1965 the Town of Hempstead removed most of the bay houses in an effort to preserve the sensitive wetlands on which they stand. Today there are approximately 34 bay houses remaining in the Town of Hempstead and will be preserved for future generations.

For more information about the tours, check out our Events page or call Long Island Traditions at (516) 767-8803 during office hours or e-mail us at info@longislandtraditions.org.

You can also click here to learn about one observer’s experience. And listen to bay house stories by clicking here.

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