A Long Island museum is sharing the stories of people who helped change the world, and it's passing many of those stories directly to our children.

The African American Museum of Nassau County in Hempstead lays claim to many firsts. It's the first museum in the country to have its own genealogy department.

Even the building on North Franklin Street is prime real estate.

"In this very place is where Billy Joel got started," says African American Museum of Nassau manager Joysetta Pearse. "We have his playlist from when he came in and recorded his first time. The Isley Brothers, the Doobie Brothers, Hall and Oates, a lot of people started right here in this building."

Pearse says their goal is to educate people about the stories and sometimes, not so well-known history, of Black people.

"There was so much hidden history, that would encourage our children to understand who they are, they don't have to have an inferiority complex or whatever, because some of their people have done marvelous things," says Pearse.

Some of those people include the Jennings family, who in the 1800s each made history of their own. Elizabeth, credited with helping to desegregate public transportation in New York City. Her father Thomas was the first African American to have a patent in America. And his wife Elizabeth Senior, who advocated for women's rights.

The museum also includes a rich musical instrument collection.

"The first xylophone, the first banjo, all these things created in Africa," says Pearse. "The xylophone is made of wood. Underneath, there are squashes, small to large and the size determines the sound when you hit the wood."

Another priceless artifact in the museum is a piano that belonged to Eubie Blake. He bought it in 1915 and the executive director says the county takes such good care of it, they have a dedicated tuner and cleaner.

And while many of the items and stories detail the history of some well-known people, Pearse says some of their connections to the Island are a surprise to many visitors.

"Everyone knows John Coltrane, he did get some popularity and he wrote his greatest piece of work while he was living in his house in Dix Hills," says Pearse.

Pearse hopes that people leave inspired to make their own history.

"The things that we have focused on here, reflect the things that our children can be proud of and they can set their mark a little higher," she says. "Because they know that it has been done before."

The museum is following COVID-19 protocols, so you need to call ahead if you want to visit.