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Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum (Visit this link)
Join us by taking a tour of the Ocean City, MD Life Saving Station Museum.
When in Ocean City, Maryland visit the historic building which houses Ocean City
history and that of the U. S. Life-Saving Service. Delightful exhibits
concerning the history of the Life-Saving Service, Aquariums, Dolls' house
replicas of hotels which once lined the boardwalk, shipwreck artifacts, a
mermaid collection, bathing suits from the past and our Sand From Around the
World exhibit. The beautifully restored building, once scheduled for demolition,
now stands as Ocean City, Maryland's showplace.
Originally named the Ocean City Life-Saving Station, the Life-Saving Service and
later the U. S. Coast Guard actively used the building until 1962. 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.
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 a 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
1962 when they abandoned the station for a newly constructed station located
near the Ocean City Inlet.
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. Twenty years later, the museum has
become Ocean City's Showplace.
http://www.ocmuseum.org