58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2017 58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 58 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
DESTINATIONS
Greenport
A whale of an oceanfront destination
In addition to its historic harbor, Greenport has lovely, walkable beaches.
The Fireboat Firefighter Museum is afloat with history.
By BRENDAN MANLEY
Long Island’s Greenport Village
dates to the mid-1600s, when
colonists from New Haven crossed
the Long Island Sound and settled
in Southold township. Thanks to its
deep, well-protected harbor, the village
has been an integral part of the
North Fork’s economy and maritime
tradition ever since, driving
local whaling, fishing and oystering
in the 19th and 20th centuries, then
becoming a tourism hub in modern
times.
Today, the village offers bountiful
options for beachfront relaxation
and activities, as well as a lengthy
list of historical attractions spotlighting
Greenport’s rich heritage.
Whaling became a massive industry
in Greenport between 1795
and 1859, helping to also drive a
shipbuilding boom. The mid-1800s
also saw the zenith for menhaden
fishing, and later in the first half
of the 20th century, oyster harvesting
hit its peak. Perhaps the most
pivotal development in Greenport’s
early years, however, was its selection
as the first-ever LI destination
on the embryonic Long Island Rail
Road, which connected Greenport
to Brooklyn in 1844. The new
railroad line provided a turbo boost
for North Fork growth, allowing
local farmers to ship their products
with unparalleled convenience and
speed, while bringing city dwellers
east for sun and respite.
Today, Greenport celebrates its history
by making museums, galleries
and landmarks foremost among
its cultural offerings, providing an
intellectually stimulating alternative
to beachgoers seeking vacation
variety. Wineries, brewpubs and
fine dining also take center stage
here. So, when you’re not lounging
by the waterfront, be sure to sample
the area’s top-flight cuisine and
award-winning libations, while
checking out Greenport’s many
historical gems.
The Museum Scene
To experience an intriguing component
of Greenport’s long maritime
tradition, spend some time
at the Fireboat Firefighter Museum
(Wiggins Street, Greenport
Commercial Pier, 631-333-2230,
http://www.americasfireboat.
org), featuring the nearly 80-yearold
Fire Fighter, the world’s most
award-decorated fireboat. Designed
by renowned naval architect William
Francis Gibbs in 1938, Fire
Fighter fought over 50 major fires
during her career, including blazes
aboard the SS Normandie, El Estero,
Esso Brussels and Sea Witch,
as well as several dozen major pier
fires throughout New York Harbor.
Fire Fighter also led the FDNY
Marine Unit response to the Sept.
11, 2001 attacks, supplying water
for three weeks to emergency crews
fighting fires at Ground Zero. A
National Historic Landmark listed
on the National Register of Historic
Places, Fire Fighter is now a memorial
and teaching museum, while
still a fully operational vessel. She’s
open for guided and self-led tours
from April to October, on weekends
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Another Greenport hotspot for
oceangoing history is the East
End Seaport Museum (3rd Street,
631-477-2100, www.eastendseaport.
org), honoring the area’s
longstanding relationship with the
sea. Attractions include a 750-gallon
saltwater aquarium featuring
flora and fauna from Peconic Bay,
a display of two Fresnel lenses, and
exhibits devoted to subjects like LI’s
