The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, a unique combination of mansion, marine and natural history, planetarium and park, is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of the people of Long Island and beyond. Its mission is achieved through the thoughtful preservation, interpretation and enhancement of the Eagle's Nest estate as an informal educational facility. Exhibition and program themes focus upon Long Island's Gold Coast Era and build upon William K. Vanderbilt II's desire that his marine, natural history, and ethnographic collections promote appreciation and understanding of the marvelous diversity of life, other cultures and scientific knowledge.