The Hampton Bays Historical Society is presenting a lecture in its 2024 Cultural Series on July 10th at 7 PM. Author and historian, Bill Bleyer will discuss his recent book, "The Sinking of the Steamboat Lexington on the Long Island Sound".
This steamboat was originally commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt as he built his maritime empire in New York. The Steamboat Lexington eventually became the most prestigious steamship on the heavily trafficked Long Island Sound.... But in 1840 a fire broke out on the ship, igniting poorly placed bales of cotton which destroyed the ship in minutes. This incident would be the worst maritime disaster in Long Island history .
