From the roadside, the vintage railcar and museum may be missed while quickly driving by, but once you visit the Wantagh Preservation Museum, the history jumps out at passersby. Filled with so much history and artifacts on every wall and casing, Wantagh Elementary students learned a few interesting facts about their community while visiting the week of November 18 – 21, 2024.

Over the course of four days, each second-grade class partnered with another class taking a short walk from school to the museum going back in history with each step taken. Upon arrival, students were welcomed by Wantagh Preservation Museum volunteers Matt and Tom who provided an engaging discussion to the area's rich history. Students were able to identify photos and street names within their neighborhood.

Each group stopped by the Post Office built in 1907 for a quick glimpse of what post offices looked like during the time period. The historical tour continued with boarding the restored Jamaican Parlor Car originally built in 1912 giving students a glimpse into how different rail cars looked compared to those of today. Carefully examining the vintage pots and pans on the stove, one student shared that his grandmother has a (roasting) dish just like it.

Part of the experience included a lesson and treasure hunt behind the parlor car where students “discovered” stone artifacts left by the Montauk Native American tribe who once lived in the area now known as Wantagh.

The experience proved to be a memorable journey of discovery sparking curiosity from students connecting the past to present.