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A Few Clouds North Shore Historical Museum delves into local maritime disasters
An upcoming exhibit at the North Shore Historical Museum to open on Feb. 29 delves into the maritime history of the North Shore, shining a spotlight on shipwrecks and sinkings that occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike the grand scale of the Titanic disaster, these incidents, while not as widely known, left indelible marks on the local communities.
From the tragedy of the Lexington in 1840 to the General Slocum disaster of 1904, and more, the exhibit showcases the stories, photographs and firsthand accounts that have shaped the area’s maritime heritage. Notable incidents like the Rye Cliff sinking in 1918 and the William T. Bell loss in 1927 will be featured, offering visitors insights into the diverse range of challenges faced by seafarers and coastal communities.
Through a curated collection of artifacts, newspaper reports, and personal narratives, the exhibit aims to capture the human experiences and the impact of these maritime disasters. By highlighting these lesser-known incidents, the museum hopes to foster a deeper appreciation for history and the North Shore’s enduring connection to the sea.
“While you could say that the North Shore is kind of isolated and small, there’s actually a lot that has gone on here and continues to go on and develop,” Amy Driscoll, the museum’s director, said. “The history is very diverse. We have shipwrecks and we have estate homes and a lot of industry. Glen Cove was very much an industrial town.”
From the solemn reflections on lives lost to the resilience of coastal communities, the exhibit promises to be a compelling journey.
The Lexington
The Lexington was a paddlewheel steamboat that transported passengers and cargo across the Sound starting in 1835. The ship was commissioned and designed by Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch of the business dynasty, and was considered one of the most cutting-edge vessels of its time.
It is suspected that the ship’s smokestack caught fire on the night of Jan. 13, 1840, while it was sailing from New York to Stonington, Connecticut, with between 143 and 154 passengers and crew, as well as 150 bales of cotton. All but four of the people on board were killed in the ensuing conflagration, drowned, or died of hypothermia.
The General Slocum disaster
The General Slocum disaster occurred on June 15, 1904, when the steamboat caught fire in the East River while carrying approximately 1,300 passengers, primarily German immigrants from Saint Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Poor safety measures, including ineffective life-saving equipment and lack of crew experience, contributed to the tragedy. Despite onlookers’ warnings, the crew failed to act promptly. Over 1,000 lives were lost, making it the deadliest disaster in New York City before Sept. 11, 2001. Investigations revealed failures in inspections and emergency preparedness. The incident led to improvements in maritime safety, including the transfer of responsibility to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946. Today, an annual ceremony at Tompkins Square Park honors the victims, serving as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in maritime transportation.
Rye Cliff
The 137.5-foot-long sidewheel steamship was built in Maine and launched in 1898. It was traveling between Sea Cliff and Rye Beach in Westchester County six times a day when, on Sept. 28, 1918, it caught fire at the Sea Cliff pier, destroying the pier in the process. It burned to the waterline before sinking in 25 feet of water in Hempstead Harbor several hundred yards offshore near the mouth of Glen Cove Creek.
The exhibit is a collaborative effort with researchers Bill Bleyer, Adam Grohman, Bradley Golden, and the Village of Bayville Museum and the Village of Sea Cliff Museum. The North Shore Historical Museum, 140 Glen St., Glen Cove, will run the exhibit from Feb. 29 through June.
