From the earliest settlers who farmed shellfish and built dugout canoes, to residents and visitors of today who enjoy sunny beaches and world-class boating, Long Island’s story is inextricably linked with the sea.

Located on the Great South Bay, the Long Island Maritime Museum ropened its doors to the public in 1968, and is committed to the research, preservation and interpretation of our region’s rich nautical heritage and the role of Long Island in our national maritime story. Whether it’s boat building, shipwrecks, shellfish harvesting or recreational boating that captures your imagination, it’s all here under our roofs, in our galleries and at our many special events and programs. Kids will discover the links between the Island's maritime and natural histories, while encountering some of the amazing creatures living in our local waters.

Today (2026), a full time staff of two, six to ten part timers and a dedicated volunteer force successfully operate the Museum and its programs. Many of the museum's maintenance and restoration projects have been adopted by volunteers, under staff supervision, as educational programs. This is just one of the great Long Island institutes keeping its history alive.