East Rockaway in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The East Rockaway Grist Mill
| — | Mill River Green Way Trail | — |
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025
1. The East Rockaway Grist Mill Marker
Inside this meticulously restored building, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a previous century or two. It’s East Rockaway’s Old Grist Mill Museum, where families can explore the past life of Mill River and the bay.
Opened in 1965, the museum was damaged in 1990 by a fire set in the middle of the night. But the community rallied to rebuild, and Amish craftsmen restored the building, which reopened in 1993.
You’ll find exhibits on Native Americans who fished, hunted, and gathered fruits, nuts, and herbs in the area before the Dutch and English took over their land in the mid-17th Century. You’ll also learn what life on the bay was like long ago for those who earned their living on it and on the Mill River.
In 1998, the National Register of Historic Places recognized the mill as having been economically important for the “swamps of the Rockaway peninsula.”
Caption:
The museum was built circa 1688
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1688.
Location. 40° 38.829′ N, 73° 39.888′ W. Marker is in East Rockaway, New York, in Nassau County. It can be reached from Atlantic Avenue just north of Woods Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: World War II Roll of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); East Rockaway Roll of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); William Gregory (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); East Rockaway 9/11 Memorial (about 300 feet away); Sp. 4 Louis E. Pizzuto (about 300 feet away); P.F.C. Gary W. Thornlow (about 300 feet away); Before the Revolutionary War (about 300 feet away); Milling Stone & Bedding Stone (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Rockaway.
Also see . . . Haviland-Davison Grist Mill.
Haviland-Davison Grist Mill is a historic grist mill located at East Rockaway in Nassau County, New York. It was restored and relocated to its present site in Memorial Park in 1963. It was built about 1689 and is a 2+1⁄2-story, T-shaped, timber-frame building. The original section has one large addition and two smaller wings attached to each side(Submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025
2. The East Rockaway Grist Mill Marker
The marker is located in front of this funeral home.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025
3. The East Rockaway Grist Mill Marker
The marker faces the sidewalk, away from the roadside.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 4, 2025
4. Old Grist Mill Historical Museum
The museum is not visible from the historic marker. It is located slightly south of the marker, within Memorial Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 85 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
