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With its two stations and five outbuildings, Chicamacomico
(pronounced chik a ma COM i co) is the most complete site of
remaining life-saving stations in North Carolina and one of the
nation’s most complete sites. This site is located on Hatteras
Island in the village of Rodanthe on the Outer Banks of North
Carolina.
Built and manned in 1874,
Chicamacomico was the first United States Life-Saving Service
station in North Carolina, dedicated to the sole purpose of
rescuing lives in peril from the sea. After the U.S. Life-Saving
Service evolved into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915 this station
saw service until 1954. It is home to one of the greatest
rescues in early Coast Guard history, the 1918 rescue of
forty-two crew members of the British tanker, Mirlo. The six
U.S. Life Savers involved in that rescue were awarded the Gold
Life-Saving Medal from the U.S. Treasury Department.
Additionally, the Officer in Charge, BMC John Allen Midgett,
Jr., was awarded the Silver Cup from the British Trade
Commission. King George of England was so appreciative of the
heroes of Chicamacomico and their valiant efforts that he
fashioned a gold medal in their honor and awarded it to these
same men. The greatest honor bestowed upon them was the Grand
Cross of the American Cross of Honor. Only eleven of these
medals have been awarded in the history of the United States;
six of these medals were conferred upon the rescuers of
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. Many other important rescues
are documented in our archives. In the forty-four year history
of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, 177,286 lives were saved of the
178,741 lives in peril (99.2%), a record unparalleled even
today. Remarkably, this is coupled with a less than one percent
loss of life for the actual U.S. Life Savers. No life-savers
were ever lost from Chicamacomico, mainly because of their
superb training.
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, and is a proud member of
Historic Albemarle Tour
.
Our purpose is to restore,
preserve, protect, educate and interpret the rich history of
these valiant men and their dedication to the U.S. Life-Saving
Service, as well as interpreting the history of the buildings
and artifacts. We are open to the public from mid-April through
November, and provide our visitors with tours, programs,
reenactments and special events. |
