Tackapausha Museum and Preserve
Seaford, Washington Avenue between Merrick Road
and Sunrise Highway
516-571-7443
Open: Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Museum Admission: $2, children ages 5 - 12; $3, adults and teenagers; those under 5 years of age are admitted free when accompanied by a parent.
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The Tackapausha Museum offers a window into
the varied natural habitats of Long Island, including
plants and wildlife in different seasons. A popular
exhibit features live animals in a reversed day-night
cycle; the museum also provides educational programs.
The Tackapausha Preserve is an 84-acre tract of
glacial outwash plain that serves as a wildlife
sanctuary, consisting of wet, deciduous woods,
swamps, streams and ponds, and a small well-drained
grassy area reminiscent of the Hempstead Plains.
A variety of small mammals and 170 species of
birds have been seen at the Preserve in the spring.
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A Nature Sanctuary on the South Shore
LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF DENSELY POPULATED SEAFORD on the South Shore, the Tackapausha Preserve is an historic and beautiful 84-acre sanctuary of oak forests, ponds and streams, small mammals and scores of bird species, all of which can viewed via five miles of clearly marked trails.
The Tackapausha Preserve, the first tract of preserve land acquired by Nassau County (in 1938 and originally for drainage purposes), is one of the most popular preserves on the South Shore. Bordered by Merrick Road on the south and Jerusalem Avenue on the north, it provides residents with the opportunity to enjoy a physically and spiritually invigorating hike in a convenient and accessible location.
In addition, the preserve incorporates a 3,000-square-foot museum with displays about the ecology of Long Island, as well as animal exhibits and shows and interactive activities for children. The museum is also available for birthday parties on weekends.
The preserve itself consists of three sections divided by major roads, with trails that meander through each part. In the southern section, between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway, the preserve is host to the largest Atlantic White Cedar “stand,” or grouping of trees, in Nassau County, located in a swamp just north of Tackapausha Pond, near Merrick Road.
In the central section, between Sunrise Highway and Clark Avenue, a small, secluded pond draws waterfowl and amphibians. The northern section, between Clark and Jerusalem avenues, includes a small wetland near Clark.
Bird-watchers often hike the trails, with lawn chairs in tow, seeking out species commonly found at the preserve, such as the ruby-throated humming bird. In all, more than 170 bird species have been identified within the preserve, along with raccoon, muskrat, gray squirrel and opossum.
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