East Marion: Heritage, Coast and Nature

East Marion lies between Long Island Sound to the north and Orient Harbor to the south. The season can also shape what stands out: an important wintering area for waterfowl and a summer bloom represent different sides of the town. This makes it possible to choose your destination based on the interest that will shape your stay most.

Heritage and Local History

Main Road in East Marion is designated as both a National Historic District and a State Historic District. These dual designations make Main Road a clear point of interest for visitors interested in local history.

East Marion was home to a lifesaving station for more than 50 years. After the Life-Saving Service became part of the United States Coast Guard, the station remained open until World War II. The town’s maritime history thus encompasses both its long tenure as a station site and the change in the organization responsible for it.

Another, later point of reference is the East Marion government post office: it was dedicated on May 30, 1949, and also served as a memorial to World War II.

Coast and Nature

Trumans Beach in East Marion has nearly 1,100 feet of pebble beach. Next to the beach, the Orient-East Marion Park District provides a picnic area.

The wetland at Trumans Beach provides habitat and nesting grounds for Piping Plovers, Least Terns and Common Terns, Ospreys, Clapper Rails, herons, teal and Black Ducks.

East Marion’s parkland includes the Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond. The preserve is an important wintering area on the East End for waterfowl such as Buffleheads, Horned Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers. The birds’ seasonal presence varies. At Trumans Beach, the wetland serves as nesting grounds; the preserve is important to waterfowl as a wintering area.

Summer Blooms and Getting There

Lavender by the Bay is located in East Marion. More than 80,000 plants bloom each summer on the original 17-acre property; this number may change over time. For seasonal planning, the contrast is clear: the preserve is important as a wintering area for waterfowl, while the farm is associated with summer blooms.

Lavender by the Bay is about a 20-minute bike ride from Greenport train station. Hampton Jitney also serves East Marion. The approximate bike travel time and the current bus schedule serve different planning purposes: use the former to get to the farm and the latter to travel to East Marion. Check the latest information before your trip, as times and routes may change.

Explore more destinations: Shelter Island, Quogue, Water Mill, Commack, Greenlawn, Copiague, East Quogue, Hampton Bays.

For the broader travel overview: Suffolk.