Visit the newly redesigned Alice Austen House and celebrate its rich history and innovative events

The Alice Austen House Museum, another of Staten Island’s most treasured North Shore jewels, is the National Historic Landmark known as Clear Comfort.  And in June 2017, the home located at 2 Hylan Blvd. in Rosebank, was recognized as an LGBTQ historic landmark. The charming vintage estate boasts a luxurious waterfront lawn that once served as home to renowned photographer Alice Austen, who lived from 1866 until 1952. 

Alice Austen was one of America's first, great female photographers and over the course of her life she captured some 8,000 images.  Though she is best known for her documentary work, Austen also was a masterful artist, landscape designer and tennis player. In addition, she was the first woman on Staten Island to own a car. 

For more than 50 years, Austen was in a loving and devoted relationship with Gertrude Tate, who lived at the fascinating beachfront home with Austen for nearly 30  years. And in a Victorian environment, Austen’s way of life was considered to be unconventional.

In 2017, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the museum a $250,000 grant for demonstrating the iconic photographic, immigration, women’s and LGBTQ history of Alice Austen.