Visit Long Island's historical ties to "Turn"
A companion book for the exhibition "Spies," which is on display at the Three Village Historical Society in East Setauket. Credit: Daniel Brennan
'Turn," AMC's new historical spy drama, will shine a welcome light on the valiant efforts of a few Long Islanders who helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. Known as the Culper Spy Ring, patriots from Setauket and Oyster Bay and surrounding areas risked their lives to keep Gen. George Washington apprised of the plans and movements of the British Army.
Friends since childhood, four of the spies -- Abraham Woodhull, Benjamin Tallmadge, Caleb Brewster and Anna Strong -- were from Setauket. A fifth, Robert Townsend, was from Oyster Bay but worked and lived in Manhattan.
Those who want to delve more deeply into the world of Revolutionary espionage have a wealth of spots on Long Island to pursue the real story:
SETAUKET
Given it was home to so many members of the Culper Spy Ring, it's no surprise that the Three Village Historical Society has a spy in residence. Historian Beverly Tyler, 73, portrays a 264-year-old Abraham Woodhull during walking and biking tours, narrating through stops at historical sites (including graves) around town.
"Washington was a hands-on kind of guy," Tyler explains, suggesting complicated spy techniques such as invisible ink. This is one of many things you'll learn during a three-mile walking tour (the next is 2-3:30 p.m. April 12) or visit to the in-house exhibit (1-4 p.m. Sundays, $5). The annual guided biking tour, May 3, features various spy ring members in costume along the route ($10 a person or $20 per family).
INFO 631-751-3730, tvhs.org
OYSTER BAY
Unlike other members of the spy ring, Townsend never revealed his efforts during the war -- historians had to ferret it out. "A successful spy is one you never hear about," says historian and militia re-enactor Michael Goudket of Seaford, who portrays an aged Townsend during tours of Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay.
He discusses the difficult tightrope that Townsend walked. A merchant in Manhattan, he pretended to be a loyalist as he rubbed elbows with British officers and collected their secrets. Back home in Oyster Bay, his family was forced to house British officers.
Docent-led tours run Friday-Sunday ($8), but the museum is open 1-5 p.m. daily except Mondays ($5 adults, $3 ages 6-18).
INFO 516-922-6808, raynhamhallmuseum.org
ISLANDWIDE
Hit the road with the Long Island North Shore Heritage Alliance, which has put together a Culper Spy Ring mobile phone tour to guide visitors to 13 sites at their own pace. Markers at the sites trigger audio bites that tell what happened there during Revolutionary times.
Call the tour's hotline, 631-498-4740, and follow the prompts to choose your location and hear the story of who spied what. Pick up a corresponding map-brochure from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Rd., Setauket.
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