Long Island Maritime Museum

In 1966, Hervey Garrett Smith was one of the founders and the first director of the Long Island Maritime Museum, formerly the Suffolk Marine Museum.
As director and the initiator of the collection of nautical artifacts and historic wooden boats, Hervey Garrett Smith deserves the gratitude of all present and future generations. It was Hervey Garrett Smith's dream that Modesty (built in 1923) should become the property of the Museum where she would become an example of the vessels of old in the early days of our shellfishing industry.
Born in Bayport on January 17, 1896, Hervey Garrett Smith was a self employed marine artist and writer and activist for the maritime community.
A graduate of Pratt Institute of New York, he was a flight instructor during World War I. He did illustrations for many sailing magazines and the National Geographic magazine. Mr. Smith's largest collection of paintings is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He wrote and illustrated a number of books of great interest to those interested in boating and boat building: The Racing Sailor's Bible, The Small Boat Sailor's Bible, How to Choose a Sailboat,The Marlinspike Sailor, Arts of the Sailor and Boat Carpentry.


	Hervey Garrett Smith 1896 - 1979

	In 1966, Hervey Garrett Smith was one of the founders and the first director of the Long Island Maritime Museum, formerly the Suffolk Marine Museum. As director and the initiator of the collection of nautical artifacts and historic wooden boats, Hervey Garrett Smith deserves the gratitude of all present and future generations. It was Hervey Garrett Smith's dream that Modesty (built in 1923) should become the property of the Museum where she would become an example of the vessels of old in the early days of our shellfishing industry. Born in Bayport on January 17, 1896, Hervey Garrett Smith was a self employed marine artist and writer and activist for the maritime community. A graduate of Pratt Institute of New York, he was a flight instructor during World War I. He did illustrations for many sailing magazines and the National Geographic magazine. Mr. Smith's largest collection of paintings is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He wrote and illustrated a number of books of great interest to those interested in boating and boat building: The Racing Sailor's Bible, The Small Boat Sailor's Bible, How to Choose a Sailboat,The Marlinspike Sailor, Arts of the Sailor and Boat Carpentry.
	Mr. Smith was also one of the founders of the Wet Pants Sailing Association; he was elected Commodore for the first three years of the life of the sailing association, which continues to flourish today and a life member of the Early Bird Flyers Club and the South Bay Cruising Club. Hervey Garrett Smith died on November 12, 1979 after a brief illness.


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