The unnamed hurricane of 1938 came virtually without warning and slammed Long Island. The hurricane was also called “Long Island Express.” According to a History.com article it was one of the most destructive storms to hit the area in the 20th century.

 

Below we compiled some photographs of the destruction of the 1938 hurricane preserved by the East Hampton Library.

 

View of a crushed automobile, from fallen trees, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of the Maidstone Arms, downed trees, and a boy on a bicycle, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of destruction, from the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of a woman sitting among debris, after the hurricane of 1938. (Chauncy's photos)

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of a demolished car on the beach, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of cars driving down a street with downed trees, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of boats washed up on land, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of displaced boats, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of uprooted tree on the former White's Drugstore, in East Hampton, N.Y.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of a boat washed up on land, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of men working in uprooted trees, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of a house destroyed, by the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of people standing near a fallen tree, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of a tree crushed car, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

View of Duryea's fish and lobster wholesale seafood, in Montauk, N.Y., after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.

 

View of boats in Montauk, after the hurricane of 1938.

 

Photo: For educational use only. The East Hampton Library, Long Island Collection. For any other use, please contact The Long Island Collection, East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton, NY 11937. 631-324-0222 x 4 or email lic@easthamptonlibrary.org. Used with permission.