From the desk of the President of the Sing Sing Prison Museum
As 2018 winds down, it’s time to thank all of our friends for your support over the past year. You’ve brought us a long way toward our goal of opening the Museum in 2025, the 200th anniversary of the building of Sing Sing Prison in 1825.
Most recently, we have selected an outstanding architecture/exhibit design team to develop the Preview Center and the Museum. Stay tuned for an announcement, with work anticipated to begin in early 2019! |
Nonprofit StatusBy way of getting established, we received our official charter from the NYS Board of Regents as an educational organization and our designation from the IRS as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization this year. We also opened up an office on Main Street in Ossining.
PartnershipsWe are working closely with New York State on plans for the Museum. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has reviewed our concept for a secure corridor that will allow visitors to experience the 1825 Cellblock. And our plans for preservation work on the 1936 Powerhouse have been approved by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
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Board of TrusteesOur Board of Trustees has grown to 17 dedicated members. With their help, the Museum has received $225,000 in private donations and New York State has awarded us $875,000 in grants. With the assistance of Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, the State is poised to provide more than $2.375 million in upcoming grants for capital construction.
Fund RaisingWe ran a highly successful Kickstarter campaign during the summer, raising almost $40,000 to be used in opening a Preview Center in the Powerhouse in 2020. Many of you contributed to that effort and also came on board for a second “Sing Sing Swing: An ‘Up-the-River’ Cruise” in mid-November.
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Power House Improvements and Access to 1825 Cellblock
With assistance from the Village of Ossining that enables us to address state grant guidelines, the Museum is poised to begin preservation of the 1936 Powerhouse and the subsequent rehabilitation of a portion of that building for occupancy in early 2019. This will allow the Museum to re-locate its current office from Main Street to the Powerhouse and to begin the design and development of a Preview Center on the ground floor. We envision a full building clean up, stabilization of the upper floors, new windows and related site work to demonstrate our progress.
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In addition, we have met with leaders of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), who have reiterated their support for the Museum and have committed to working with us to develop access for museum visitors to the 1825 Cellblock. This crucial piece of the puzzle is falling into place.
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The Year to Come
In 2019, we will break ground with preservation work at the Powerhouse. We will also complete our conceptual design of the corridor connecting the Powerhouse to the 1825 Cellblock and prepare more detailed designs to transform the Powerhouse into a permanent home for the Museum. We will also take steps to improve the Museum’s web site and social media presence.
Your continued support plays a critical part in developing the physical presence and program content for this Museum that will tell Sing Sing’s important story of 200 years of American punishment and reform. Your contribution, no matter what the amount, will be greatly appreciated. A tax-deductible contribution can be made through PayPal or by check made payable to Historic Hudson River Towns/SSPM and sent to Sing Sing Prison Museum, 127 Main Street, Ossining, NY 10562. Be sure to let us know if you would like to join us as a volunteer as well as a donor.
With many thanks from all who are working to make the Sing Sing Prison Museum a reality.
Robert W. Elliott, President
Your continued support plays a critical part in developing the physical presence and program content for this Museum that will tell Sing Sing’s important story of 200 years of American punishment and reform. Your contribution, no matter what the amount, will be greatly appreciated. A tax-deductible contribution can be made through PayPal or by check made payable to Historic Hudson River Towns/SSPM and sent to Sing Sing Prison Museum, 127 Main Street, Ossining, NY 10562. Be sure to let us know if you would like to join us as a volunteer as well as a donor.
With many thanks from all who are working to make the Sing Sing Prison Museum a reality.
Robert W. Elliott, President
