Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated New York City Landmark, the Bowne House is the oldest building in Queens. Constructed circa 1661 by Quaker English settler John Bowne, the building was home to nine generations of Bowne family members. A champion of religious freedom and the right to liberty of conscience, John Bowne played a fundamental role in overturning the Dutch colonial mandate that forbade the practice of religions outside the Dutch Reformed Church. This established the precedent of principles later codified in the Bill of Rights and the first ten Amendments to the United States Constitution. Years later, the House and its environs once again played a significant role in American history by providing a place of succor and sanctuary as a stop on the Underground Railroad.  View a special exhibit featuring a recently conserved rare 19th-century Black Doll from the museum’s collection. This exhibit showcases the doll in relation to the greater Flushing free black community of the 19th century. Bowne House residents’ involvement in the Underground Railroad, the Abolition Movement, and the Quaker Flushing Female Association will also be highlighted.