Part of Bayside Historical Society's Author Talk at the Castle Series

Cost: $10.00 for BHS members; $15.00 for non-members

As part of our events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Bayside Historical Society is pleased to welcome author, historian, and Long Island native Bill Bleyer for a presentation on his compelling book, George Washington's Long Island Spy Ring: A History and Tour Guide. A Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation.

About the book:

In 1778, two years after the British forced the Continental Army out of New York City, George Washington and his subordinates organized a secret spy network to gather intelligence in Manhattan and Long Island. Known today as the "Culper Spy Ring," Patriots like Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend risked their lives to report on British military operations in the region. Vital reports clandestinely traveled from New York City across the East River to Setauket and were rowed on whaleboats across the Long Island Sound to the Connecticut shore. Using ciphers, codes and invisible ink, the spy ring exposed British plans to attack French forces at Newport and a plot to counterfeit American currency. Author Bill Bleyer corrects the record, examines the impact of George Washington's Long Island spy ring and identifies Revolutionary War sites that remain today.

About the author:

Bill Bleyer was a prizewinning staff writer for Newsday for 33 years specializing in history and maritime issues before retiring in 2014 to write books and freelance for the newspaper and magazines.

He has written seven books published by the History Press: “The Roosevelts in New York City” (2025); The Sinking of the Steamboat Lexington on Long Island Sound (2023); George Washington’s Long Island Spy Ring: A History and Tour Guide (2021); Long Island and the Sea: A Maritime History (2019); Fire Island Lighthouse: Long Island’s Welcoming Beacon (2017); Sagamore Hill: Theodore Roosevelt’s Summer White House (2016); and, with co-author Harrison Hunt, Long Island and the Civil War (2015).

He has been featured on C-Span and his work has been published in American Heritage, in Smithsonian magazine’s digital edition and in America’s Civil War, Naval History, Sea History, Lighthouse Digest, Civil War News and other publications.

The Hofstra University graduate has taught economics and journalism there and maritime history at Webb Institute, the naval architecture college in Glen Cove.

Purchase tickets below or call 718-352-1548.