239-Year-Old Uptown Farmhouse And Museum Appoints New Leader

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — A major cultural institution in Upper Manhattan recently appointed a new leader that will start their tenure on Monday.

Melissa Kiewiet is the new Executive Director of the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum at the corner of Broadway and 204th Street.

The Dutch Colonial-style farmhouse that houses the museum was built in 1784, and is a member of The Historic House Trust of New York City. It opened as a museum in 1916.

The museum within the farmhouse aims to "support the preservation of the historic site, to be a catalyst for engaging, adventurous programming and to be a good neighbor and a dynamic resource for the community," reads its website.

Kiewiet first began working at the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum in March 2018 as a Development and Community Engagement Fellow, before serving at the Director of Development and Community Engagement, and eventually as the Interim Director of the museum since February 2023.

Kiewiet took over from Meredith Horsford, who was the longtime director of the museum before accepting a job as the Executive Director of the Historic House Trust in February.

"Kiewiet continues to be an instrumental part of the DFMA’s operations, directing grant applications, fostering community partnerships with local artists and organizations, and managing major museum projects like the Dyckman capital project, which will see massive improvements to the museum’s facilities, and the Dyckman Reinterpretation Project, which will center narratives of those long overlooked in the museum’s history. The DFMA is excited to see what amazing work Melissa will continue as Executive Director!" reads a news release from the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.

You can find out more about the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum on its website.