United States Coast Guard History and Heritage Sites

This is a list of United States Coast Guard historical and heritage sites that are open to the public. This list includes National Historic Landmarks (NHL), the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), cutters, museums, monuments, memorials and more. It includes only NHL Lighthouses. There are many more resources dedicated to lighthouses, this list attempts to collect everything else in one list. The United States Lighthouse Society, Lighthouse Friends and the many Wikipedia pages dedicated lighthouses are a few of the many excellent resources for those interested in lighthouses. This list captures the most important historical features, that is the NHL and the often overlooked U.S. Coast Guard sites.

The Revenue Cutter Service is not as well represented in this list compared to the other constituent agencies; those other agencies had a head start. The service did not even have a proper name for three-quarters of a century until 1863 when Congress voted to name them the "Revenue Cutter Service." The service established its first permanent shore infrastructure around 1900 at Curtis Bay, Maryland and it is still in operation today as the Coast Guard Yard. Revenue cutters operated out of their respective port and were under the operational control of the Collector of Customs of that port. Before Federal Income Tax, customs duties were the primary form of revenue, the customs house was often the hub of activity for the Federal Government in a harbor town. Beyond the customs house and perhaps a pier, it is unlikely that more shoreside infrastructure was required in the early days.

The Sites are mapped in Open Street Map, recommend searching with the name, city, and state.

Atlantic

New England

CityStateModern Name or LocaleEraHistorical NameNHLNHL/NRHP #NHL/NRHP DateNoteAmagansettNew YorkAmagansett U.S. Life-Saving and Coast Guard Station MuseumAmagansett Life Saving StationNRHP100002743July 27, 2018AmesburyMassachusettsLowell's Boat ShopLowell's Boat ShopYes88000706June 21, 1990BarnstableMassachusettsUS Coast Guard Heritage MuseumBarnstable Custom HouseNRHP75000239November 12, 1975BostonMassachusettsBoston LightBoston LightYes66000133January 29, 1964BostonMassachusettsLightship Nantucket LV112Lightship Nantucket LV112Yes89002464December 20, 1989BristolRhode IslandBristol Oyster BarBristol Customshouse and Post OfficeNRHP72000015May 31, 1972ChathamMassachusettsChatham Coast Guard StationChatham Light StationNRHP87001501June 15, 1987Also: Mack MemorialCornishNew HampshireThe Chase House InnSalmon P. Chase BirthplaceYes75000133May 15, 1975Fort HancockNew JerseyGateway National Recreation AreaSandy Hook LighthouseYes66000468January 29, 1964HighlandsNew JerseyTwin Lights State Historic SiteNavesink Light StationYes06000237February 17, 2006Also Spermaceti Cove 1849 BoathouseHullMassachusettsHull Life Saving MuseumPoint Allerton Lifesaving StationNRHP81000110June 11, 1981KennebunkportMaineLouis T. Graves Memorial Public LibraryKennebunkport Custom HouseNRHP74000323January 18, 1974LubecMaineWest Quoddy StationWest Quoddy Lifesaving StationNRHP90000581April 20, 1990Also: West Quoddy Head Light and Coast Guard TrailMadisonConnecticutLee's AcademyCaptain Frederick LeeNoN/AN/AAlso: Defense of the cutter EagleMarshfieldMassachusettsCoast Guard Hill Recreation AreaCommunication Station Boston (NMF)NoN/AN/AMonmouth BeachNew JerseyMonmouth Beach Cultural Center, NJMonmouth Beach Life Saving StationNoN/AN/AMontaukNew YorkMontauk Point LighthouseMontauk Point LighthouseYes69000142March 2, 2012MysticConnecticutMystic Seaport MuseumNew Shoreham Life Saving StationNoN/AN/AAlso: Brant Point Light replicaNahantMassachusettsNahant Life Saving StationNahant Life Saving StationNRHP12000133March 20, 2012Now a special event venueNantucketMassachusettsNantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving MuseumNantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving MuseumNoN/AN/AReplicaNarragansettRhode IslandCoast Guard HouseNarragansett Pier Life Saving StationNRHP76000010June 30, 1976RestaurantNausetMassachusettsCoast Guard BeachNauset Life Saving StationNoN/AN/AOperated by: Cape Cod National SeashoreNew BedfordMassachusettsCustom House SquareNew Bedford Custom HouseYes70000735December 30, 1970Part of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The Custom House is still in use as a Federal office building.New BedfordMassachusettsCoast Guard ParkNational Lightship Sailors MemorialNoN/AN/ANew LondonConnecticutCustom House Maritime MuseumNew London CustomhouseNRHP70000706October 15, 1970Contains exhibits on the Amistad AffairNew LondonConnecticutFort Trumbull State ParkRevenue Cutter School of InstructionNRHP72001333September 22, 1972New LondonConnecticutU.S. Coast Guard AcademyU.S. Coast Guard MuseumNoN/AN/ANew museum in planning, see Projects Section belowNew ShorehamRhode IslandSoutheast LighthouseBlock Island South East LightYes97001264September 25, 1997New YorkNew YorkAlexander Hamilton U.S. Custom HouseNew York CustomhouseYes72000889December 8, 1976Contains the National Museum of the American Indian Also: Coast Guard Memorial at The BatteryNew YorkNew YorkThe BatteryCoast Guard MemorialNoN/AN/AAlso: Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom HouseNew YorkNew YorkCentral ParkAlexander Hamilton MonumentNoN/AN/ANew YorkNew YorkHarlem HeightsAlexander Hamilton PlaygroundNoN/AN/ANew YorkNew YorkNational Lighthouse MuseumU.S. Lighthouse DepotNRHP83001785September 15, 1983New YorkNew YorkPier 25USCGC LilacNRHP04001441January 7, 2005New YorkNew YorkPier 66Lightship Frying Pan LV115NRHP98001615January 28, 1999New YorkNew YorkHamilton Grange National MemorialHamilton GrangeYes66000097December 19, 1960Located in St. Nicolas ParkNew YorkNew YorkSouth Street Seaport MuseumLightship Ambrose LV87Yes84002758April 11, 1989NewburyportMassachusettsCustom House Maritime MuseumNewburyport Custom HouseNRHP71000089February 25, 1971Also: Coast Guard Bicentennial Monument and USCGC Evergreen BellOrleansMassachusettsCoast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500CG-36500NRHP05000467May 27, 2005ProvincetownMassachusettsOld Harbor Life Saving StationOld Harbor Life Saving StationNRHP75000159August 18, 1975RocklandMaineMaine Lighthouse MuseumMaine Lighthouse MuseumNoN/AN/AAlso: Buoy ParkRockportMassachusettsCape Ann Light StationTwin Lights, Thacher's IslandYes71000355January 3, 2001Sag HarborNew YorkCustom HouseSag Harbor Custom HouseNRHP73001274July 20, 1973SalemMassachusettsSalem Maritime National Historic SiteSalem Custom HouseNRHP66000048October 15, 1966Also: Derby Wharf LightSalemMassachusettsWinter Island Marine ParkFort PickeringNRHP73000320February 8, 1973Coast Guard Air Station Salem and Winter Island Light are located here but not open to the publicTruroMassachusettsCoast Guard BeachCoast Guard BeachNoN/AN/AOperated by: the Town of Truro, MassachusettsWeehawkenNew JerseyHamilton ParkWeehawken Dueling GroundsNoN/AN/AWellfleetMassachusettsThe BeachcomberCahoon's Hollow Life Saving StationNoN/AN/AWestportMassachusettsHorseneck Point Lifesaving StationHorseneck Point Life Saving StationNoN/AN/A

Inland Waterways

CityStateModern Name or LocaleEraHistorical NameNHLNHL/NRHP #NHL/NRHP DateNoteBaton RougeLouisianaUSS Kidd Veterans MuseumUSCGC White Alder MemorialNoN/AN/ACairoIllinoisOld Custom HouseCairo Custom HouseNRHP73000689July 24, 1973ChiloOhioChilo Lock 34 MuseumUSCGC WakerobinNoN/AN/AOutdoor exhibit with only the Steam Engines on displayClarksvilleTennesseeCustoms House MuseumClarksville Federal BuildingNRHP72001246June 13, 1972LouisvilleKentuckyMayor Andrew BroaddusLife Saving Station#10Yes89001446June 30, 1989WheelingWest VirginiaWest Virginia Independence HallWheeling Customs HouseYes70000660June 20, 1988WinonaMinnesotaUSCGC Winona MonumentUSCGC WinonaNoN/AN/A

Mid Atlantic

CityStateModern Name or LocaleEraHistorical NameNHLNHL/NRHP #NHL/NRHP DateNoteAllenhurstNew JerseyBorough of Allenhurst, New JerseyBorough of Allenhurst, New JerseyNoN/AN/AThe town is named for Abner Allen Life Saving Station KeeperAllenhurstNew JerseyChurch of St. Andrew by the SeaNew EraNoN/AN/AOutdoor exhibit with the ship's anchor and plaque displayed on the church grounds.AnnapolisMarylandThomas Point Shoals Light StationThomas Point Shoals Light StationYes75000864January 20, 1999ArlingtonVirginiaArlington National CemeteryCoast Guard MemorialNoN/AN/AAlso: USS Serpens Memorial and CDR Elmer F. Stone GravesiteBald HeadNorth CarolinaCaptain Charlie's StationCape Fear LightNRHP78001931August 29, 1978Beach CottagesBaltimoreMarylandLightship Chesapeake LV116Lightship Chesapeake LV116Yes80000349December 20, 1989Also: USCGC TaneyBaltimoreMarylandUSCGC TaneyUSCGC TaneyYes88001826June 7, 1988Also: Chesapeake Lightship LV116Rehoboth BeachDelawareDelaware Seashore State ParkIndian River Life Saving StationNRHP76000582September 29, 1976BerlinMarylandAssateague Island National SeashorePopes Island Life Saving StationNoN/AN/ABuxtonNorth CarolinaCape Hatteras National SeashoreCape Hatteras Light StationYes78000266August 5, 1998DuckNorth CarolinaLife Saving StationCaffeys Inlet Lifesaving StationNRHP78001942January 30, 1978Casual dining on Sanderling ResortFort BelvoirVirginiaNational Museum of the United States ArmyUSS Joseph DickmanNoN/AN/AUtah Beach landing depicted in the Global War GalleryHatterasNorth CarolinaGraveyard of the Atlantic MuseumGraveyard of the Atlantic MuseumNoN/AN/AKitty HawkNorth CarolinaBlack Pelican Seafood CompanyKitty Hawk Life-Saving Station BoathouseNoN/AN/AOcean Front DiningKitty HawkNorth CarolinaKitty Hawk Lifesaving Station #7Kitty Hawk Life-Saving StationNRHP84000073November 10, 1984Beach CottageLewesDelawareCanal Front Park and MarinaLightship WLV 539Yes89000006June 14, 2011Also: Lewes Life Saving StationLongportNew JerseyLongport Historical MuseumGreat Egg Coast Guard StationNRHP05000128October 31, 2005ManasquanNew JerseySquan Beach Life Saving StationSquan Beach Life Saving Station#9NRHP08000135March 5, 2008ManteoNorth CarolinaCollins ParkPea Island CookhouseNoN/AN/AAlso: Herbert M. Collins Boathouse and Richard Etheridge statueNorfolkVirginiaFort NorfolkFort Norfolk Lighthouse DepotNRHP76002225October 29, 1976Used as lighthouse depot during the mid-20th CenturyOcean CityMarylandOcean City Life Saving Station MuseumOcean City Life Saving StationNoN/AN/AOcean CityNew JerseyU.S. Life Saving Station 30Ocean City Life Saving StationNRHP13000385June 14, 2013OcracokeNorth CarolinaOcracoke Preservation SocietyOcracoke VillageNRHP90001465September 28, 1990Numerous maritime and Coast Guard sites within the Ocracoke Historic District. The former Coast Guard Station is not open to the public.PortsmouthNorth CarolinaCape Lookout National SeashorePortsmouth Life Saving StationNRHP78000267November 29, 1978PortsmouthVirginiaLightship PortsmouthLightship Portsmouth LV101Yes89001080May 5, 1989RodantheNorth CarolinaChicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site and MuseumChicamacomico Life Saving StationNRHP76000164December 12, 1976Seaside ParkNew JerseyCoast Guard Station TrailU.S. Life Saving Station Station No. 14NRHP78001789January 30, 1978A short dune trail in Island Beach State Park near the historic life saving station, however, the station is not open to the public.Stone Harbor BoroughNew JerseySteven C. Ludlum American Legion Post 331U.S. Life-Saving Station No. 35NRHP08000970October 8, 2008Museum operated by the American LegionVirginia BeachVirginiaCape Henry LighthouseCape Henry LighthouseYes66000910January 29, 1964Located on Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, however the lighthouse is open accessible to the general publicVirginia BeachVirginiaVirginia Beach Surf and Rescue MuseumSeatack Life Saving StationNRHP79003304July 11, 1979WashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaTreasury BuildingTreasury BuildingYes71001007November 11, 1971Tours available

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