Get to know Amagansett
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller lived here. In the late 1950s, the most famous couple in America would escape to their small converted windmill home, where the famous playwright would write and the legendary actress would prepare for Some Like It Hot. Perhaps no other Long Island village or hamlet wears its mystique better than these 6.6 square miles in East Hampton dropped between the ultra-exclusive Maidstone Club and Montauk. After all, post-Marilyn and Miller, other residents of Amagansett have included the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, and Billy Joel. Further Lane, which unwinds through East Hampton and continues east into Amagansett parallel to the beach, is one of the best addresses in the Hamptons, with locals able to recite by heart the sale prices of various mansions — since the owners are often famous.
History & Culture
Amagansett’s eponymous Historical Association was established in 1964, nearly 300 years after the hamlet’s initial founding. The group is focused on preserving the area’s rural roots, up to 1925, with a collection of carriages, furnishings, letters, and early photographs. Its grounds contain structures dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, including the c.1725 Miss Amelia Cottage — an exemplar of Colonial times in Amagansett listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Along Bluff Road is the East Hampton Marine Museum, honoring the inextricable past and present links Amagansett and the rest of the East End share with the sea. Locals and visitors get hands-on experience in the ways of the water at one of several beaches: Indian Wells Beach and Atlantic Avenue Beach are among the white sand options along the ocean, but one must not overlook the tranquil bayfront at Albert’s Landing.
Dining & Shoppping
If you’re venturing outside of the home and not bound for the beaches, your Amagansett adventures will likely take you toward Montauk Highway/Main Street. The hamlet’s principal thoroughfare buzzes with eateries serving up all kinds of mouthwatering fare. As expected — after all, it is the East End — Amagansett is perfect if you’re looking to reel fresh seafood onto your plate. Still, there are ample other options should your stomach growl for something more turf than surf. Stephen Talkhouse is an area institution, offering a venue to meet up with friends for drinks or catch performances from artists of local fame and world renown. Amagansett Square is a downtown green space inhabited by various boutique shops — clothing, jewelry, cosmetics — plus spots for coffee, pastries, and cheese spots. It’s also an area where you can stop time for a bit, take a seat, and absorb Amagansett’s glory.
