Our Mission:

The East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation preserves and celebrates the maritime heritage, culture and history of the East End of Long Island through our proud stewardship of Bug Lighthouse, our conservation support of the bay ecosystem and through exhibits, educational programs, events and Maritime Festival.

We bring community together to keep this rich legacy alive and vital today.

Whaling, Ship Building, Defender of the America’s Cup

Greenport was a principal whaling and ship building port, with seventy-seven ship arrivals and departures between 1832 and 1857. From 1830 to 1850, over 500 registered vessels were built at Greenport shipyards. Thirteen marine railways launched vessels ranging from schooners to barques.

In the later 19th and early 20th century, Greenport was a major transportation hub, with twenty side-wheel steamers creating a sea link between New York and Boston.

Long famous for its prosperous oyster and menhaden fishing industry, Greenport was also central in the glory years of J-Boats and the America's Cup. Greenport resident George Monsell skippered Enterprise, Defender and Ranger, Cup winners in 1930, 1934 and 1937.

World War II brought a boom in ship building. Between 1941 and 1945 Greenport Basin & Construction Company, now Greenport Yacht and Shipbuilding, built and launched a fleet of more than 50 small warships: Minesweepers, Sub Chasers and Tugs.

The YMS 382 was sent to Norway and on May 7, 1945 was torpedoed in the English Channel and lost. She was the last allied warship sunk by a U-boat in WWII.

Click here for a full list of ships