Old Tradition, New Challenges Santa arrives his usual way at Chicamacomico, but goes to a different place Chicamacomico Overcomes Christmas Challenges! This year’s “End of Season Festivities” at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum was very different in many ways. First, Santa’s normal venue for greeting the Island’s “children of all ages” had been seriously damaged by Hurricane Irene and was still not completely repaired, making it inaccessible. The other building where refreshments had always been served was also seriously damaged and also inaccessible. In fact, both structures were part of a three-outbuilding complex still cordoned off with yellow CAUTION tape, awaiting extensive repairs and cleanup. But the ‘Santa Day at Chicamacomico’ had largely become an established community event, and the staff and volunteers did not want to disappoint. Even so, it would have to be minimized: venues were lost; decorations were lost; equipment was lost; it was even uncertain if enough help was even available. The main building, the 1911 Life-Saving Station, was available and in good shape, having been virtually untouched. Still, there were issues: unlike the traditional venue, the rooms available on the ground floor in the Station were small. They were also crowded with displays and artifacts, unlike the previous venue. It had lots of steps. And the maze of rooms could be confusing to excited children. But just like the life-savers of old that worked there, against all odds, the staff and volunteers made it work. The initial crowd was smaller than usual, but a steady flow for the next two full hours eventually equaled the normal attendance. This was due to the flawless efforts of the volunteers who smoothly directed the Visitors and who also helped in other ways. They were Garnet and Dick Shoaf, Priscilla and Ron Scovall , Mike Daugherty, John Griffin, Jinx Caylor, Mary Ann Cohen and Dave Holden. Staff was Linda Molloy and James Charlet. Although different in these ways, the event was the same in other ways. 400 pounds of non-perishables were collected for the Hatteras Island Food Bank. Significant monetary donations were made to the Station for hurricane repairs. There were lots of smiling and happy children leaving the event, as well as smiling and appreciative parents. One eight year-old boy summed it up best: as he exited the Station, he loudly proclaimed, “That was awesome!”
The Outer Banks Community Foundation and the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, responded almost immediately to an emergency in Rodanthe. There was an imminent possibility of losing historic buildings that were the home of many local heroes, that is the men of the U.S. Life-Saving Service at Station Chicamacomico. Hurricane Irene knocked one of those buildings off its pilings (foundation). It was the historic 1897 small boathouse for Sound rescues. At first, in the “Before” picture, the situation doesn’t look so bad. But if you look closely at the small pilings, you’ll see that the building is not resting on most of them. In fact, it is leaning on the building next to it. The generous and timely funding by the Outer Banks Community Foundation and the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society helped save American history. The view underneath says it all. Notice in the “After” picture that the pilings are much larger (and much deeper, although you can’t see that) and that the two buildings are now separated. Hoorah to OUR Heroes!
	Before
	Here’s Why
	After

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They Are All About Helping

Photo credit: James Charlet, Site Manager and FSO Public Affairs

Some of the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla 16-4 spent a day assisting with clean up after Hurricane Irene at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum in Hatteras Island’s village of Rodanthe. Normally, the Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard, but Chicamacomico represents the United States Life-Saving Service, which in fact was the direct predecessor of today’s modern Coast Guard. The helpers are (l-r) Charlie Votaw, Division Staff Officer, Aids to Navigation and primary clean up organizer, Bobby Smyers, Angela Smyers, Flotilla Staff Officer (FSO) Vessel Examiner, Linda Molloy, Chicamacomico Site Operations Manager, Arthur Hammond-Tooke, FSO Publications, also Human Resources and also Secretary/Records, Shirley Votaw and Mary Ann Cohen, CLSS Volunteer.

To learn more about Chicamacomico, its exciting activities and offerings, visit www.chicamacomico.net  , email at clss@embarqmail.com  , call 252-987-1552, and now on Facebook. For more information about Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla, contact Vice Commander Leslie Pearce at lampierce@aol.com 
 

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Another Hurricane for Chicamacomico

 

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Complex has weathered many a storm in its 137 years. It was there for the Great Storms of 1899, 1933, 1944, the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, the Halloween Storm and the “Storm of the Century” of 1993 and, what was the most recent, Hurricane Isabel in 2003 . The latest, Hurricane Irene, delivered another hurtful punch to the gut, but it was far from a knock-out punch.

-> right photo
A group shot of the outbuildings with the Visitor Center on the far left.  It was the first to receive the flood waters from Irene.  Notice these buildings are still missing having their ramps in place.

The following is the Initial Damage Report filed on 30 AUG which was updated on 12 SEPT 2011

-> right photo 
THE CHICAMACOMICO VISITOR CENTER AFTER:  Worth Hare House Movers lifted the building eight feet and rested it on cribbing.  Top Dollar Construction removed all the old pilings and place much larger and deeper ones instead.  Then the moving company came back and lowered the Visitor Center onto its new, safer foundation.

Overall: Seven of the eight historic buildings remain on foundations and appear to have no MAJOR structural damage. HOWEVER, one is a major disaster (See next) Site grounds had no remaining flooding or standing water. Immediately after this storm, however, considerable flooding has occurred since then with a breach in the dunes at the campgrounds to the south of our site. There is LOTS of general clean up and repairs and carpentry repairs and replacements.

Visitors’ Center: (Soundside Boathouse) was knocked almost completely off its foundation. It is resting precariously on only four of its 15 pilings and is additionally being barely supported by leaning on the smaller 1932 Tractor Shed building next to it.　 It is a hazard and must be addressed as soon as possible.　 Took a lot of water. Ramp floated up and away. (Note: ALL 4 ramps of these three buildings floated up and away, but all remain on our property close to where they belong.) Floor bucked in several places. Most all brochures, guides, rack cards ruined. Display Boat floated to one side. Drill Cart seems OK.

Should it collapse, it will conceivably damage the two adjacent historic buildings; even worse, it may not be able to be lifted up again at all. Yet another rare piece of our nation’s history would be lost.　

-> right photo 
THE CHICAMACOMICO VISITOR CENTER BEFORE:  Unfortunately, the first and only visitor to Chicamacomico's Visitor Center on August 27 was Hurricane Irene!  She lifted it up and moved it over.  As you see, it is not resting on ANY of the pilings closest to us.  In fact, it was resting against the next building.

The VC has provided an invaluable service by orienting potential site visitors and inviting them to continue into the site, purchase an admission ticket, and take the self-guided tour and/or to patronize the Museum Gift Shop.　 These are the Site’s primary funding sources (as well as donations and memberships).　 On the advice from the National Park Service personnel, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum (sometimes as CLSS) Site Manager James Charlet contacted Worth Hare House Movers from Edenton, NC.　 They recently moved the two Bodie Island Life-Saving Stations. They have been very flexible and easy to deal with, and gave CLSS some advice and options.　.　 They would (1) raise the VC, (2) replace the current pilings with the proper size pilings, place them at the proper depth and position, and (3) then lower the VC building back into place and strap it down with hurricane ties.　 CLSS was told by Mr. Worth Hare (moving company owner) that this job would be done in one day or two.　 Cost has been quoted at $15,000.00.

Tractor Shed: took LOTS of water. Bay doors lock broke off. Ramp ripped off. Considerable movement and jumbling of contents inside. A lot of items ruined, such as donated push mower. Several broken widow panes. A lot of tedious clean up needed.

Stable: Heavy damage. Both ramps floated off and wer damaged. South-facing bay doors broken, missing boards. East-facing bay doors also broken but are shut. Single entry door so seriously damaged that it may fall apart on next opening. Two broken window panes. No apparent interior damage other than the donated full-size refrigerator that was ruined.

1911 Station: Picket fence seriously damaged in several places. Entrance gates and locks broken. Boiler room, Laundry room, and Gift Shop all took lots of water resulting in heavy damage. Boiler room door ripped completely off hinges. Ruined are water cooler, mini-fridge, microwave, lots of tools, and a considerable inventory of retail merchandise. Laundry room completely flooded with 4 feet. Everything stored there is ruined. Gift Shop took water, but not as much. List of ruined merchandise to be compiled later.

1911 Cookhouse: some minor flooding, no apparent damage.

1874 Station: One broken window pane. Water reached floor and created buckle near the boatroom doors. Everything else looked fine.

1892 Cookhouse: no apparent damage.

1907 Midgett House: Considerable loss of roof shingles. Entry door lock broken. No

other apparent damage. Complete cleaning will be necessary before re-opening.

Miscellaneous: Many decorative pilings floated off. Several signs missing, including one “Entrance” sign. One broken roadside sign light. Sections of roof missing from the two water tanks by the 1911 Cookhouse. Parking lot in terrible shape from constant flooding and from heavy use by large trucks, tractors, bulldozers, etc. Will need to be regraded and possibly have more ABC (gravel) added. Debris cleanup. The biggest task remaining, however, is that ALL buildings will need to be cleaned thoroughly before re-opening.

UPDATE 30 SEPT

Site Operations and Gift Shop Manager Linda Molloy saved over 10 dozen site tee shirts by taking quick action. She had them washed with the generous help of the North Carolina Baptist Men, who were serving the entire community throughout the disaster.

Two ground floor rooms of the 1911 Station took lots of water and received heavy damage. Volunteers from the Unite States Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla 1604 have cleaned them both out. They also got the door back on its hinges. There remains many losses to be replaced.

Volunteers from United States Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Station Hatteras Inlet spent a day on site hauling debris and other trash to the highway for pick up.

The most serious damage most urgently needing to be corrected was the condition of the Visitor Center, formerly the 1897 Sound Rescue Boat Boathouse. Of the three adjacent outbuildings in the front, the Visitor Center (VC) is the one closest to the Highway. This building had been knocked almost completely off its foundation. It rested precariously on only four of its 15 pilings and, worse, was leaning dangerously on the building next to it. Conceivably, the VC could have toppled all three buildings like dominoes. Since all of Chicamacomico’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, the only solution was to hire a professional house mover, an expensive but proper solution. Chicamacomico put the word out to potential funders. In only two days, the total project was fully funded. Stepping up to the plate, once again, was the Outer Banks Community Foundation and the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society with requested funding.

Worth Hare & Sons House Movers came and raised the VC eight feet, Tuesday 20 SEPT. Constant rain delayed the next step, but on Thursday 22SEPT Top Dollar Construction, from Hatteras Island, set all new pilings. These were 8x8 by 8 feet long. Worth returned with more rain to lower the VC back on to its pilings, and then secure it with hurricane straps.

That was one major victory for Chicamacomico. But that is one building of an eight building- seven acre complex. There are still many repairs and lots of work. Chicamacomico is soliciting both monetary donations as well as donations of labor and expertise. For the latter, email to clss@embarqmail.com.

The professional evaluation of damage costs has yet to be completed, but it will be in the many thousands of dollars. Persons willing to make tax-deductible monetary donations to help Chicamacomico get back on its feet can send them to our nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization:

The Chicamacomico Historical Association
P.O. Box 5
Rodanthe, NC 27968

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September 2011 Update

AUGUST 2011

Contact: James Charlet (Site Manager) (w) 252-987-1552 or (c) 252-996-0493

8-4-11 Chicamacomico’s triple celebration of their sixth annual “American Heroes Day,” the 1911 Life-Saving Station Centennial, and Nation Coast Guard Day was a spectacular success! It was a day of records. In spite of record-high temperatures and matching muggy humidity, a record-high crowd of over 700 turned out for this all day, all-outdoor event.

It was also a record for a single day fund-raising amount, which is one of the major objectives of the event. That is because Chicamacomico receives no federal or state funding and it is supported almost entirely by visitors.

“There are so many people to thank,” says Historic Site Manager James Charlet. We needed every group and every individual. There is no order of importance. We thank the visiting public for coming out in less than ideal circumstances; we thank the participants for bringing and showing “their stuff.” We thank the demonstrators who put on incredible shows, each one alone worth the price of admission.. We thank the Island Breeze (and writer Jenny Scarborough) and other local media for promoting this event.”

The event started out with a stirring rendition of our National Anthem performed by the award-winning Sea Notes barbershop quartet from Kitty Hawk while the colors were presented dramatically by the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard from Arlington, Virginia. A letter of congratulations from North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue was read aloud. The Commander of Sector North Carolina, Capt. Anthony Popeil, gave remarks in the place of the USCG Commandant, Admiral Papp. The normal parking lot was filled with fire trucks, police cars and trucks, water rescue boats and jet skis, an ambulance, a Cape Hatteras Electric bucket truck that was giving exciting lifts in the bucket and much, much more. In the back were some period items to help set the tone for the 1911 Life-Saving Station Centennial. Those included antique sewing machines, hit-n-miss gasoline engines, a 25 foot antique shad boat and lots of period songs from several sources.

Big thank-you’s go to our sponsors: Cracker Barrel and Coastal Impressions at the Gold Medal level; Cape Hatteras Electric Coop, Sun Realty, Surf or Sound Realty, and Ace Hardware of Avon at the Keeper Level; and Wings (Avon) and Ramada Inn as Crew. Some of that sponsorship money was used to obtain special order Centennial Edition items. Some of these one-of-a-kind coffee mugs, tee shirts and art prints are still available, but not many. These soon to be collectors’ items, as they say, when they’re gone they’re gone!

Chicamacomico wishes to thank all the volunteers who helped out on that very busy day. We are also grateful for all of the Special Guests who attended, including Captain Anthony Popeil (Commander, US Coast Guard Sector North Carolina), Senior Chiefs Wright and McCready (Officers in Charge of USCG Stations Hatteras Inlet and Oregon Inlet respectively), NC Senator Stan White, Dare County Commissioners Warren Judge and Allen Burrus and the 1911 Station’s restorer Ken Wenberg.

There was a particularly large Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary presence which was fitting for National Coast Guard Day.

Charlet finished by adding, “Although I was totally exhausted by the end, it was a great day! There were lots of compliments, smiles and positive feedback from all directions. Our visitors really enjoyed the day and got the most entertainment for the dollar anywhere on the Outer Banks.”

For stills and videos, visit Chicamacomico’s website and Facebook page, Sun Realty’s Facebook page, and also YouTube.

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site is located in the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island at MP 39.5 and is one of the many sites on the Historic Albemarle Tour as well as the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, part of America’s Scenic Byways Program.
 

A Century Old: The 1911 Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in its Very Early Days

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site and Museum in the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island has already invited and scheduled participants from all around to celebrate the centennial of its 1911 Life-Saving Station. But it is a very big site and there is room for more! “We want this to be a really big show!” said Site Manager James Charlet.

So the call is going out to our local areas. Still being sought are period wagons, trucks, cars, motorcycles, tractors, implements and tools. Period crafts and trades are also wanted. Other items, artifacts, displays, etcetera will be considered. What have you got right here that might be just great for an island centennial celebration?

“Items need not be exactly 1911, Charlet continues, “but should be reasonably close. Anything prior to that is a ‘Golden Oldie’ and is automatic!”

If you would like to nominate yourself as a participant, please email Charlet at clss@embarqmail.com and describe what you have to offer. Initial phone calls are OK, but registration will be online. Our deadlines are very tight at this point. Also, note that application does not guarantee acceptance.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 4 (also Coast Guard Day and 6^th Annual American Heroes Day) and will run from 10:00 to 4:00. Schedules to be published soon. Admission is charged for the general public because this is a major fund-raiser for the nonprofit 501 (c)(3). Chicamacomico receives no annually budgeted federal or state funds.

JUNE 2011

Midgetts from Coast to Coast
Byline: James Charlet, Historic Site Manager, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station
MK3 Hockaday is actually stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Midgett

MK3 Daniel Hockaday of the United States Coast Guard recently visited his service’s history at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island, centerpiece of North Carolina’s fabled Outer Banks on the Atlantic Coast. On the other coast due west is the United States Coast Guard Cutter Midgett, whose homeport is Seattle, Washington. She was the 12^th and last of the 378-foot High Endurance Cutter in the Hero Class. Appropriately classed, for her namesake was Chief Warrant Officer John Allen Midgett, Jr., Officer in Charge of the Chicamacomico Station in Rodanthe. He was born and raised in a home still standing just a stone’s throw from the 1911 Life-Saving Station. His men affectionately referred to him as “Cap’t Johnny.”

On August 16, 1918, after a six-and-a-half hour ordeal, he led his USCG rescue crew of five in their 26 foot Surfboat No. 1046 on a 14 mile offshore odyssey to save the crew from the British tanker SS Mirlo. The tanker was carrying over 6 ½ thousand tons of gasoline and petroleum products and had been torpedoed by German submarine U-117. The ensuing inferno was indescribable and an ordinary rescue would have been impossible. But the “Mighty Midgetts of Chicamacomico” were far from ordinary and did the impossible by rescuing 42 of the 51 crewmen of the S.S. Mirlo. It became the most highly-awarded maritime rescue in the history of our nation.

US Coast Guard MK3 Hockaway at Chicamacomico next to USCG Surfboat No. 1046. This is the actual boat, built in 1910, used in the famous 1918 SS Mirlo rescue led by Keeper John Allen Midgett, Jr.

Chicamacomico Summer Programs Article Revisited

Finding Chicamacomico
The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Complex is within easy reach from all Outer Banks locations, as seen here. Once into the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, especially the Outer Banks Scenic Byway, it is also quite pleasant surrounding you with unexpected beauty and natural wonders. The historic site and its programs are the treasure at the end of this trail!

In a recently published article about the program schedule for the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum, some vital information was omitted by the author, which will be corrected forthwith! No mention was made of the location of the Historic Site!

Chicamacomico is located in the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island. The island is where the famous lighthouse is located, and Rodanthe (row DAN thee) is the first village encountered coming from the north. It is about 30 minutes south from Nags Head or about the same north from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The physical address is 23645 NC Highway 12, or MilePost (MP) 39 ½.

SUMMER (June-July-Aug) PORCH PROGRAMS
MON- Behind the Scenes of　Nights in Rodanthe
TUE-　　America's Forgotten Heroes: Predecessors of the U.S. Coast Guard & the Unbelievable SS Mirlo Rescue
WED_ The REAL　Taffy of Torpedo Junction
THU- Beach Apparatus Drill: Breeches Buoy Reenactment Performed Live by US Coast
Guard
FRI- What REALLY Happened to the 'Lost Colony'?

All programs outdoors at 2pm. All free with regular paid admission.
“If you are a visitor staying in areas Nags Head-north, and you make a daytrip south to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and/or Ocracoke, you literally pass the entrance to this remarkable site,” says the Historic Site Manager. “So allow an extra hour and treat yourself to the unexpected surprises and unique experiences that will become unforgettable. It is a powerful and positive experience, as well. And if you are staying south of Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo (Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras Village, Ocracoke), and you take a daytrip north of the bridge to the many attractions there, do the same thing. We will be on your right as you pass the water plant. I promise, you will be glad you stopped!”

Chicamacomico Life Car and Descendants

Pictured right->
Linda and Douglas Moore from West Chester, PA, were recent visitors to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum in Rodanthe.

Mr. Moore’s great-great grandfather, Captain Douglas Ottinger, was a co-inventor of the Life Car, the small, enclosed metal boat they are standing behind. This one is an original housed in the Chicamacomico 1874 Station, along with its companion Beach Cart and Surfboat No.1046, also an original. The Life Car was used by the U. S. Life-Saving Service to rescue shipwreck victims. It was a shore-to-ship operation that involved firing a line to the stricken vessel and then having the loaded Life-Car attached to the line and hauled ashore.

There aren’t many Life Cars left in the country and not many of these 1874 Stations either. Chicamacomico’s is one of only two in the nation open to the public as a museum. The valiant work of these original “Storm Warriors” is carried on today by their successor, the United States Coast Guard.

Beach Drill Cart Renewed

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum’s Beach Drill Cart was recently completely overhauled and refurbished by volunteers of active-duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel from the Oregon Inlet Motor Lifeboat Station. The cart has seen quite a bit of action in its many drills over the years. This reproduction cart was originally built by local volunteer craftsmen. It now looks like it did then. It sits here in front of the 1874 Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station where it is housed until 2:00 pm on Thursdays during June, July and August when the Beach Apparatus Drill is performed by the Coast Guard. Currently, Chicamacomico is the only place anywhere to perform the full drill on a regular basis.
 

APRIL 2011

The First For 100
The first Centennial tee shirts for its 1911 Life-Saving Station were purchased the first day they went on sale by Eric and Anne McClure of Putnam County, West Virginia. Eric is demonstrating the front design while Anne shows the back of the shirt. These are limited editions destined to become collectors’ items. They are 100% cotton Hanes® tagless tees with the United States Life-Saving Service logo accurately rendered along with the date of the Station. More special Centennial items will soon be available; don’t miss your chance to be part of this special year-long celebration!

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
First Visitors For 2011 Season
Photo credit: CLSS
Picture Caption: Dan and Heather Beck were the first visitors to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station for the 2011 season. The Historic Site is located in the village of Rodanthe just north of Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Chicamacomico Opens for 2011 Season; Has Special Twist

Dan Beck and daughter Heather, from Cold Brook, New York (near Utica), were the first official visitors to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum for the 2011 season. Dan said he had been coming to the Outer Banks since the 1970s.

This is also the centennial year for the 1911 Life-Saving Station. While a major one-day event is being planned for August 4 (see www.chicamacomico.net), the recognition will go on all year. There are many special “centennial items” that will be available in the Gif Shop all season long, and there are many new Coast Guard items, including hats, tee-shirts, decals, challenge coins, and more.

The Historic Site is now open from 10:00 am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. The nonprofit charges nominal admission fees which help keep it running. Daily programs are scheduled for June, July and August.

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site is a seven-acre, eight-building complex. It is considered the most complete remaining U.S. Life-Saving Service complex in the nation. It contains two of the 285 U.S. L.S.S. stations built from 1848 to 1914. It was the first operational station in North Carolina and is located on the eastern-most point in North Carolina. Today the site is open to the public and contains artifacts, displays, photographs, and other unique items.

The site consists of eight buildings:

1. The 1874 Station opened in Dec. 1874. It was located approximately ½ mile north of its current location but was relocated to its current location soon after the 1911 Station was completed. Once the replacement station was built, the 1874 Station was used by the crew as a boathouse and storage shed.
2. The 1892 sound-side Boat House.
3. The 1896 Cook House was built to accompany the 1874 Station. In later years it was relocated on the property and was then used as an Oil Shed.
4. The 1911 Station was a larger structure with unique architecture – cedar shakes and shingles, dormer windows, and an enclosed watch tower.
5. The 1911 Stable held two “government horses” until they became obsolete for this type of beach patrols, etc.
6. The 1911 Cook House.
7. The 1936 Tractor Shed.
8. In addition, the site also contains three wooden water cisterns (1874 era) and one concrete “beehive” cistern (1911 era).

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Service Station was decommissioned and closed in 1954. It was abandoned property until it was acquired by a private citizen. In 1974, this private citizen turned the property over to the residents of Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo, NC. They then created the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Chicamacomico Historical Association to own and operate the complex. Limited restoration was done to the buildings up to 1994, when vigorous work began. From 1994 to present, the 1911 Chicamacomico Station is 97% restored and the 1874 Station is 75% restored. The buildings on the site are back in their correct historical location.

In 2005, a home built on Hatteras Island in 1907 was donated complete with furniture and other furnishings, and was relocated to an adjacent piece of property within the Chicamacomico complex. This home has direct ties to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. It is now called the 1907 Midgett House and is also open to the public.

Chicamacomico was the scene of the most highly awarded maritime rescue in American history (“S.S. Mirlo”, Aug. 16, 1918) and has on display Surfboat No. 1046, the actual boat used in that stunning and dramatic rescue. Chicamacomico was also the scene on one of the last breeches buoy rescues in the state of NC (“Omar Babun”, 1954).

Today Chicamacomico is now the ONLY place in the United States that performs the full Beach Apparatus Drill reenactment for the public during the summer months. It is also the only Drill reenactment in the world performed by active duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel.

This unique complex is truly special, is all real, and is a national treasure not to be missed.

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum is one of the many sites on the Historic Albemarle Tour and the National Outer Banks Scenic Byway.

Picture Caption:
Jenn O’Neill, Avon Store Manager for ACE Hardware (right) presents a check for $500 to Linda Molloy, Site Operations Manager for the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum. ACE is helping as a Keeper Level Sponsor for the Centennial Celebration of Chicamacomico’s 1911 Life-Saving Station. Details of the event, scheduled for August 4^th, can be found at the website below. The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum is one of the many sites on the Historic Albemarle Tour and the National Outer Banks Scenic Byway.

Photo credit: J. Charlet