He built the foundation for the Statue of Liberty, wrote numerous stories, and received recognition for his paintings.

In 1914, he argued against African American suffrage, stating that the solution to racial issues would be a return to plantation-era ways.

His projects included the stone ice-breaker at Bridgeport, Connecticut, the jetties at the mouth of the Connecticut River, the foundation for the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the Race Rock Lighthouse (southwest of Fishers Island, New York), and numerous life-saving stations.

During his vacations, Smith traveled widely and sketched landscapes in the White Mountains, Cuba, and Mexico.

[7] He illustrated and published numerous travelogues, including: His novels and short stories are especially felicitous in their portrayal of the Old South.