Our Storye
Nestled in the historic Square House Museum, The Storye is more than just a gift shop.
In June 2024, our gift shop was officially relaunched, with an exciting collection of new items and a new name. At The Storye, everything that we sell has a story and has been carefully curated to reflect the essence of Rye's culture and traditions. These stories elevate the shopping experience into a meaningful journey through Rye's past – each purchase carries a piece of the town's history.
By embracing the concept of storytelling, our goal with this space is to ignite curiosity and appreciation for Rye's heritage, enriching the cultural landscape of the community.
While a walk through the Square House Museum allows you to momentarily step into the past and experience the history of our community, visiting The Storye allows you to also take a piece of that history home with you. With that in mind, we hope you will join us at The Storye to deepen your appreciation for our area, and be enriched by all the stories it has to offer.
Storyes From Our Collection
The Culper Spy Ring: Invisible Ink
During the Revolutionary War, there was a group of secret spies called the Culper Spy Ring. They helped General George Washington by finding out secrets from the British.
The Culper spies used special tricks to keep their sevrets safe. One of their coolest tricks was using invisible ink!
The invisible ink was made by a smart chemist named James Jay. He was the brother of John Jay, and both of them once lived right here in Rye, NY!
This makes our hometown extra special. The Jay brothers used this invisible ink to write secret letters to each other. General Washington and others also used it to send secret messages during the war.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Connection to Rye NY: Crafting a Usonian Home
In 1951, Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned architect, designed a house in Rye, in one of Wright's Usonian designs, which are characterized by their integration with nature. The house still stands today as a private residence and is considered a significant example of Wright's architectural style.
The house was commissioned by Maximilian E. Hoffman, a famous automobile importer. The name of the one man who perhaps did the most to bring foreign cars to the United States after World War II. Mr. Hoffman, who helped introduce American drivers to European marques like Alfa Romeo, BMW, Fiat, Healey, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Porsche, and Volkswagen, was known for his directness and penchant for perfection.
Hoffman's market acumen extended beyond cars to great architecture. He commissioned Wright to design a landmark auto showroom on Park Avenue and soon after, a home in Rye.
