Margo Arceri: 2024 Woman of Distinction

Margo Arceri is a powerful force of good nature and good will, which she generously extends to the Three Village Historical Society. In conjunction with the Society, Margo owns and operates Tri-Spy Tours, a local business with big outreach. It offers walking, biking, and kayak tours of historic Setauket. An innovative thinker, she is constantly facilitating new projects and ideas while also nurturing her existing successful programs.

Margo is the creator of Culper Spy Day, now celebrating its 10th year. Culper Spy Day is a collaborative event that features more than 40 organizations from the Hamptons to Manhattan. With the aid of the Three Village Historical Society, which now spearheads it, she helped establish Culper Spy Day as a far-reaching inter-institutional celebration of history and learning. It features museum exhibit tours, historical re-enactments, traditional cooking demonstrations, colonial music, Authors Row, and much more.

Margo’s entrepreneurial spirit has enabled Tri-Spy Tours to expand its reach to support and facilitate other endeavors that benefit the community and promote local history. She was a historical consultant for the book Ghosts of Long Island II: More Stories of the Paranormal by Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, which features tales about Strong’s Neck, Setauket, and the Culper Spy Ring. She contributed to the One Life to Give film series about the events that led to the formation of the Culper Spy Ring. She is a producer on the upcoming “Civil Defense: Red Rover” and has other projects in production, such as a television series adaptation of the children’s book Redcoats and Petticoats about the Culper Spy Ring by Katherine Kirkpatrick. Many television programs, including the Travel Channel’s AMERICA UNEARTHED: The Spy Who Saved America, have also featured Margo for her expertise on the American Revolution.

Margo grew up on Strong’s Neck, and was raised on the stories of her neighbor: local historian Kate Wheeler Strong. Through Kate, Margo was introduced to the history of Anna Smith Strong of whom Wheeler Strong was a direct descendent, as well as the Culper Spy Ring, which is credited with helping George Washington win the American Revolution. She nurtured her interests by working under the tutelage of Brookhaven Town Historian Barbara Russell in the archives.

Margo has been a dedicated volunteer for and partner with Three Village Historical Society for years, previously serving on the board of trustees as vice-president and secretary. Her volunteerism has been a substantial asset to the society and informs the direction of her business acumen. When Margo launched Tri-Spy Tours, she utilized her involvement with Three Village Historical Society, forging a meaningful partnership that benefits and educates the community.

Margo is a visionary businesswoman whose sense of community and civic responsibility continues to inspire her to invest in enterprises that benefit both the Three Village area and the greater Town of Brookhaven.

Margo has previously been recognized by New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, and Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartwright. TBR Newsmedia nominated her as a Person of the Year in 2018 for her efforts to preserve the history of the Culper Spy Ring. We are exceptionally proud of her for being named a Suffolk County Legislature Woman of Distinction in the Fifth District for 2024.

Congratulations Margo!!!