Jersey Cats

This is a rags-to-riches story of how a humble workboat arrived at the Jersey Shore and evolved into a premier racing class. The narrative weaves together the engineering achievements of the 19th century—railroads, iron shipbuilding, and engine development. Fueled by an intense competitive spirit, these boats preserved an aura of old-world craftsmanship while shaping a new understanding of naval architecture.

John Brady recently retired after a distinguished career in maritime museums and ship preservation nonprofits. He has held roles at the South Street Seaport Museum, the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, and the Independence Seaport Museum. For 32 of those years, he worked as a boat builder and shipwright. Under his leadership, the Independence Seaport Museum’s boat shop gained national prominence, specializing in the construction and preservation of New Jersey and Delaware River watercraft. He later served as President and CEO of the Independence Seaport Museum for a decade. More recently, he acted as interim CEO of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve for six months. John has also published articles in WoodenBoat, Sea History, and Power Ships.

The Herreshoff Marine Museum's Annual Lecture Series features top authors, sailors, historians, and experts, offering insights amidst historic Herreshoff boats and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.

Lectures are available in-person or virtually on Zoom—be sure to check your ticket type when purchasing. Online sales for in-person tickets close 2 hours before the event, though tickets may still be available at the door unless stated otherwise. Your ticket grants access to the lecture on the specified date and time, either in person or online.

While we aim to provide recordings to ticket holders, availability is not guaranteed. If available, recordings are typically shared 3–5 weeks after the event.

Looking to attend the entire series? The , available exclusively to Museum Members, offers access to every lecture in the lineup. Passholders also enjoy access to all 2025 video recordings, when available.

Tickets are non-refundable but transferable up to one week before the event. No physical tickets are issued; check-in is done by last name upon arrival.

Museum Members enjoy exclusive discounts on lecture tickets. Not a member yet? Join today at herreshoff.org/support and start saving!

The Herreshoff Lecture Series is Proudly Sponsored by: , , , , , , and .

Host or Publisher Herreshoff Marine Museum