Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum

Museum History

Life-Saving in Ocean City Maryland

Originally named the Ocean City Life-Saving Station, the Life-Saving Service and later the U. S. Coast Guard actively used the building until 1964. The life-saving station was part of the coastal system, established by the United States Treasury Department, for the saving of vessels in distress and lives in peril upon the water.

Old Station House

The first station at Ocean City was of the architectural type "1874 type, second variation" It was quaint and small and sat alone in the dunes at the northern edge of Ocean City. A station that saw much activity during its first ten years was cause for the government to enlarge the facility.

In 1891, the present Ocean City Station (the museum) was built. The architecture of the station house (the museum) was referred to as an "1882 type." The architect of record was J. L. Parkinson.

The surfmen stationed at Ocean City became an integral part of the newly developing town. Heroic deeds at sea earned them the respect of everyone.

In 1915 the U. S. Life-Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the modern day U. S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard used the building until 1964 when they abandoned the station for a newly constructed station located near the Ocean City Inlet.

Moving the Life-Saving Museum down the beach

The building fell into a state of disrepair and was used by the city for various government departments. In 1977, the building was scheduled for demolition. A group of concerned citizens formed the Ocean City Museum Society and with the generosity of the mayor and city council who made funds available to the society, the building was saved by moving it to its present location.

After much restoration to its exterior, the station house was officially dedicated as a museum on Christmas Day, 1978 and has become Ocean City's Showplace.

Recommended Links

A winner of the 2007 Rand McNally Best of the Road^TM Editors' Pick. Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is one of the very special recommended stops to be named an Editors' Pick.

Use of the 2007 Rand McNally Best of the Road^TM images is authorized by Rand McNally & Company. However, Rand McNally does not assume any liability to any third party for any acts or omissions of The Ocean City Life- Saving Station Museum.