The Townsend Society of America is located in historic Oyster Bay, Long Island. The original museum and archive was in a Victorian house purchased in the early 1980s with a bequest to the Society by Miss Helen Hart Townsend.  In accordance with her wishes, the museum was dedicated to the memory of her great-grandparents, Samuel and Rebecca Purdy Townsend. The Society has since closed the museum and dedicated its resources to better serve members with their research.

In July 2017, the Society moved to 123 South Street in downtown Oyster Bay and we are in very limited space. We have maintained our collection of Townsend memorabilia and genealogical material.

Around the corner is the Raynham Hall Museum which was the family home of Robert Townsend, the Culper Spy. Next door is the 'old' Townsend Inn (now a Masonic Lodge) and a Victorian-era Townsend house.  You can also visit the Oyster Bay Historical Society or tour Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's house, which is part of the National Park Service.  Please see their websites for days and hours open.

At the moment our office is closed.  Much in our holdings was photographed or transcribed and added to the website. Members of the Society are welcome to attend the Annual Meeting in October by Zoom link.  Any questions, please call (516) 558-7092 or send an email to: director@TownsendSociety.org.