Historic House Trust of New York City receives $100,000 from The New York Community Trust to pilot "anarchist" initiative at Lewis H. Latimer House

NEW YORK, June 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Imagine a historic house museum where visitors can skip guided tours and explore the attic, read poetry, listen to vintage records, make their own electronic devices and host community meetings.  That's the purpose of a Historic House Trust of New York City (HHT) pilot project at the Lewis H. Latimer House in Flushing, Queens.

The two-year project, funded with a $100,000 grant from The New York Community Trust, tests ideas from "The Anarchist Guide to Historic House Museums," an HHT initiative. It rejects standard tours, embracing unusual strategies to reinvigorate historic houses as resources that provide education and even entertainment for communities.

The Lewis H. Latimer House was the home of an African-American inventor and electrical pioneer by the same name. The Lewis H. Latimer Fund, Inc. saved the house from demolition in 1988 and today it is fully preserved in Flushing.  "This project is designed to invigorate Latimer House and perpetuate Latimer's legacy by engaging the senses, involving neighbors, and making preservation accessible," said Franklin Vagnone, Executive Director of the Historic House Trust. Vagnone added that visitors will learn about family, diversity, invention and aspiration.

About Historic House Trust of New York City
The Historic House Trust of New York City is a nonprofit organization operating in tandem with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to aid in and insure the preservation of 23 city-owned historic properties located in parks in all five boroughs.  HHT works to preserve our sites, protect their collections, engage diverse audiences, educate visitors and sustain the nonprofits that operate our houses. www.historichousetrust.org.  @hhtnyc.   

About The New York Community Trust
Founded in 1924, The New York Community Trust is one of the largest community foundations in the country and one of the largest private nonprofit funders of City nonprofits.  The Trust makes grants in these program areas: Community Development and the Environment; Health and People with Special Needs; Education, Arts, and Human Justice; and Children, Youth, and Families.  In 2012, The Trust ended the year with $2.1 billion in assets and made grants of $136 million.  www.nycommunitytrust.org.

Contact: Olivia Cothren, Development Associate
(212) 360-8204 or [email protected]

Contact: Franklin Vagnone, Executive Director
(212) 360-8203 or [email protected]

SOURCE Historic House Trust of New York City