Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Chicamacomico Life Saving Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The 1874 station.
Location:	NC 12 and SR 1247, Rodanthe, North Carolina
Coordinates:	35°35′42″N 75°27′54″W / 35.595°N 75.465°W / 35.595; -75.465Coordinates: 35°35′42″N 75°27′54″W / 35.595°N 75.465°W / 35.595; -75.465
Area:	10 acres (4.0 ha)
Built:	1874
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	76000164 [1]
Added to NRHP:	December 12, 1976

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (CLSS) is a former station of the United States Life-Saving Service. It is located in Rodanthe, North Carolina, on Hatteras Island of the Outer Banks, on the east side of what is today Highway 12. Today, the surviving buildings of the station form a museum.

History

Chicamacomico was an active US Coast Guard facility from 1915 until 1954. After its decommissioning the facility was transformed into a museum.

The CLSS is perhaps best remembered for the 1918 rescue of the British tanker Mirlo. Forty-two crew members of the Mirlo were saved by station personnel. Numerous accolades and awards were bestowed upon the 6 life-savers including gold medals in their honor presented by King George V of the United Kingdom and the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor. To date only eleven Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor awards have been bestowed in the history of the United States with six being bestowed upon the members of the CLSS.

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.