The Town of North Hempstead Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission is currently exhibiting the town's 12 designated landmarks and landmark districts at the Port Washington Public Library Art Gallery. Included in the exhibit are more than 70 photos, farming implements from the 1700s books and photos belonging to historic personages from the designated sites. A centerpiece of the exhibit is a large scale model of the Onderdonk House which was built in 1836 in Manhasset. The exhibit will be in place through the end of August.

The town designated its first landmarks in 1985, and to date a total of 12 sites have been designated. The sites include cemeteries, a school building, a church, the only remaining 19th century toll house on Long Island, two landmark districts containing a combined total of more than 100 homes, and several individual homes, some of which have been converted to public uses.

The designated landmarks and districts are as follows: Dodge Homestead, Main Street School, Monfort Cemetery, The Onderdonk House, East Gate Toll House, Denton House, Roslyn House, Roslyn Cemetery, Port Washington Heights Historic District, A.M.E. Zion Church and Cemetery, Dutch Homestead and Roslyn Heights Historic District.

The town established its landmark ordinance in 1983 in recognition of the vital need to preserve its past. The preface to the law begins: "The Town Board finds that the preservation of historic landmarks, sites, or districts within the town fosters a greater stability in our neighborhoods, creates an appreciation of our historic heritage and furthers the education of future generations."

The town's Historic Preservation Ordinance is designed to protect historic buildings from unnecessary or inappropriate demolition or alteration. When considering landmark designation, the Commission considers issues such as the age of the building, whether it belonged to a historic personage, or whether it represents the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the town. The commission's jurisdiction is limited to the exterior of buildings and to unincorporated areas of the town, although Commission Chairman Dr. George Williams has worked with several local villages considering landmarking laws.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the town has produced several brochures for distribution, one detailing the landmarks designation process, one offering a description of each of the designated landmarks, and a driving tour of the landmarks. The town is also in the final stages of production of a video entitled Landmarking - Saving the Past for the Future, which has been funded in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The art gallery is open to the public during normal library hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Port Washington Public Library is located off Main Street at One Library Drive in Port Washington.