DYCKMAN FARMHOUSE MUSEUM
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Mission Statement
Dyckman Farmhouse Museum (DFM), the last farmhouse in Manhattan, is a vital cultural asset in New York City. The mission of DFM is to support the preservation of the historic site, to be a catalyst for engaging, adventuresome programming, and to be a good neighbor and a dynamic resource for the community by providing new and fresh inclusive narratives in an engaging and accessible manner. The farmhouse was built in 1784 and became a museum in 1916. Our mission-driven team believes strongly in acting as a gathering space and resource for the people of Inwood and the surrounding neighborhoods. The organization primarily executes its mission through free and low-cost programming for our community, where 25% of people live below the poverty line. DFM aims to correct the narrative of who built New York City, serving as a monument to those who made our city’s economic, physical, spiritual, and social foundations.
About This Cause
The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is a visual treat for visitors and passersby who look up to see it perched above Broadway at 204th Street. The Dutch Colonial-style farmhouse was built on the current site by c. 1784 and opened as a museum in 1916. Today, it is nestled in a small garden, serving as an extraordinary reminder of early Manhattan, and is an essential part of its diverse Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood. Our mission is to reevaluate and recontextualize the historical narratives of our community, to be a good neighbor and a dynamic resource for the community. We strive to change the canons of art and history, uplift underrepresented voices, and create a safe space for visitors, locals, artists, and historians alike to unite through conversation and immersive, multi-faceted programming, hosting site-specific art installations created by local artists, education programs for children, an annual arts fall festival, literacy programs, children's workshops, and history lectures. Since 2016, through research projects like DyckmanDISCOVERED, collaborating with local artists, and offering accessible, engaging public programming, the Museum has explored various ways to include telling the stories of the Indigenous and enslaved peoples who once lived and worked on the Dyckman Farmhouse site where the Museum resides. Through collaboration with peer institutions and local businesses, DFM generates enthusiasm for the culturally diverse organizations and companies within Inwood and its neighboring communities like Washington Heights, Harlem, the South Bronx, and the West Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Fordham Heights, and Highbridge. Our community partners list includes 80 partners, such as the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NOMAA), the NYPL Inwood Branch, Morris-Jumel Mansion, and the Inwood Farmers Market, which represent many facets of the community, allowing us to expand our reach into the Inwood community and beyond, offering additional arts and culture programs year-round. Our free arts and culture-related programming provides education, entertainment, and socialization for a critically underserved neighborhood. Approximately half of residents in Upper Manhattan are immigrants, two-thirds of whom are from the Dominican Republic. Over 60% of our neighbors speak Spanish, and bilingual programming is a priority for DFM. As such, we make the Museum inclusive by providing signage and promotional materials in English and Spanish. The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is owned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and is a member of The Historic House Trust of New York City. The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance (DFMA) was formed to help raise crucial funds to ensure the continued preservation of this unique historic site.