About Us
The Conference House is a National Historic Landmark and New York City Landmark. It is owned by the City of New York, operated by the Conference House Association as a house museum, and is a member of the Historic House Trust of New York City.
Conference House Association
Our mission: to preserve, protect, and maintain the historic houses of Conference House Park while educating visitors about their history.
In 1846, a local Staten Island historian, Gabriel P. Disosway, published an article about the house and its place in the history of the American Revolution. He expressed hope that the house would be saved. Although the owners of the house did not share Disosway’s concern, public interest in preservation was growing steadily nationwide. In 1886, a bill was introduced in the New York State legislature to acquire the Conference House for museum purposes. The bill did not pass, but enough interest had been generated that it was reintroduced in 1896, 1901, and again in 1909.
In April 1926, Harmon National Real Estate, which had just acquired the property in 1925, gave the Billopp House and one acre of land to the City of New York for use as a park, recreational area or museum. It became the first house museum on Staten Island. But by then, the house was in a deteriorated state and about to be razed.
A group of local preservationists realized that its destruction would mean the loss of an important piece of American history. This group, the Conference House Association, was formed on September 21, 1925, and would oversee the reconstruction of the house, furnish the newly restored rooms, and open the house as a museum. The first officers and trustees included members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), business and civic leaders, historians, and local preservationists.
“…it is the idea of the Association to so reconstruct the building that it may look as nearly as possible as it did when the famous Conference took place on September 11, 1776.”
Conference House Association
Board of Directors
The Conference House Association continues to oversee the maintenance and restoration of the Conference House.
| Gerard A. Lacagnino | President |
| Madalen Bertolini | Past President |
| David Castell | Vice President |
| Edmund DeMeo | Vice President |
| Linda Jensen | Secretary |
| Gloria Stuart | Treasurer |
Michael Acquilano, Bert Bertolini, Catherine Castell, Ed DeMeo, Maureen DeMeo, Evelyn Lacagnino, James Pistilli, Jack Suter
Honorary Board Members
Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro Honorary President
Staten Island Parks Commissioner Thomas Paulo Honorary Vice President
Muriel Bedell, Joyce Brown, Robert Burger, Frank DeJulio, August Fietkau, George Michie, Ruth Michie, Doris Pitou, Thoma Robertson, Beverly Vroome.
Conference House Association
Staff
Office Administrator: Susan Fowler info@conferencehouse.org
Museum Educator: Kirsten Teasdale education@conferencehouse.org