United States

The Alice Austen House Museum is a lovely Victorian cottage, but what makes this historic house particularly interesting is the story of its namesake. Alice Austen (1866-1952) was a self-taught photographer who spent most her life in this home, also known as Clear Comfort. It sits atop a hill in the 15-acre Alice Austen Park, which boasts amazing panoramic views of New York Bay and the city beyond.

In addition to preserving many of her belongings and furnishings, the Alice Austen House Museum displays many of her vintage photographs. Austen was known for her documentary style, quite rare in her day, and she snapped photos of high society, immigrant life, new inventions like the bicycle and historic events. At the museum, families can explore the house, parts of which date back to the 17th century, see her pictures and even try hands-on workshops where kids can learn photo techniques of the past and present. Since my nine-year-old son is into photography, it's been on my bucket list for a while now, and we recently found time to check it out.