Once again the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station invites you to come and experience some of Hatteras Island's unique and exciting maritime history. The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in on the National Register of Historic places and was one of the stations of the United States Life-Saving Service, predecessor of the U.S. Coast Guard. It is one of the most complete U.S.L.S.S complexes in the nation. It contains seven acres of eight original historic buildings and includes two complete lifesaving stations, two complete cook houses, a boat house, a tractor shed, a horse stable/workshop, three barrel cisterns, one rare “beehive” cistern, and a 1907 island two-story, 10 room home fully furnished.
Recently, extensive restoration has been completed on the 1874 Life-Saving Station. It is the first operational lifesaving station and also the oldest. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the only structure on the island that is older, and by only four years. The Chicamacomico Station is one of only two 1874 U.S.L.S.S that is open to the public in the nation. Chicamacomico is a non-profit organization that raises its own funding, so admission is charged.
Chicamacomico Station was home to the most highly awarded maritime rescue in American history, S.S. Mirlo on August 16, 1918. Surfboat No. 1046, the original surfboat used in that rescue, is on display. This is only one of the hundreds of original artifacts, displays, exhibits, and photographs available for viewing. This year the formal programs that the Station will hold will begin in June and run through August. This year programs are the Beach Bonfire held on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., The Real Taffy of Torpedo Junction on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., and the Beach Apparatus Drill Re-enactment performed by the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursdays at 2 p.m.
Chicamacomico Station is located in the village of Rodanthe, which is the first village on Hatteras Island coming from the north. The cost of admission is $6 for general admission, $4 for seniors 65 or older and students, $5 per person for a group rate, and $15 for a family rate. Hours of operation are currently Monday through Friday from noon until 5 p.m. For more information call 252-987-1552.
Article by Island Free Press
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