Sailors' Snug Harbor opened in 1833 on a 130-acre plot of land on Staten Island. It was the country's first home for retired merchant seamen.

Captain Robert Richard Randall was a heir to a shipping fortune. His will was drawn by Alexander Hamilton, in which he created the Sailors Snug Harbor.

Randall's will left his Manhattan estate to be converted into "Snug Harbor." By the time his will was enacted, the trustees of Snug Harbor opted to maximize profits on the Manhattan property and build the institution on another piece of land in Randall's possession.

Building C, pictured here, was the first building completed, in 1833. The Greek Revival structure, with its octastyle (eight-columned) portico is the oldest surviving work by architect Minard Lafever.

Mariners came to Snug Harbor with little to nothing. The institution admitted residents regardless of race, nationality, age, or religion - making it one of the first democratic, non-discriminatory charitable institutions in the country.

Snug Harbor supplied residents with all the clothing they needed. They were not allowed to drink on site, but could come and go as they pleased.

Men could make handicrafts, such as baskets, for personal enjoyment or to sell for spending money.

The facilities eventually expanded to include 55 buildings. These included a chapel, music hall, hospital, greenhouse, and dairy farm. The Harbor grew its own tobacco and vegetables.

All kinds of entertainment was offered. The Music Hall could seat 686 people, and is the second oldest music hall in New York City.

Residency declined in the 1930s, and Snug Harbor became a financial burden. The site was eventually purchased by the City of New York.

Sailors' Snug Harbor moved to the North Carolina coast in the 1970s, and the site now accommodates more than seventy cultural organizations, including the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, a botanical garden and children's museum.

Randall's vision of supporting homeless and helpless sailors was a dream come true. Snug Harbor was a place to find refuge, food, clothing, medical treatment, and most importantly an atmosphere of respect.