Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station is a maritime heritage museum in Rodanthe featuring two main station buildings and five outbuildings that display original rescue equipment, boats, and coastal safety artifacts. The 10-acre property contains preserved structures and historical gear from the era when sailors and ships needed protection from dangerous Atlantic waters.

Founded in 1874, this was North Carolina's first coastal rescue station built to protect vessels in dangerous waters. The operation continued until 1954, serving mariners through eight decades of Atlantic coastal service.

The station hosts regular demonstrations of traditional beach rescue techniques where visitors can watch how historical equipment such as the Lyle Gun was operated. These live performances help people understand how rescue crews worked during the early days of coastal safety.

The property offers parking and restroom facilities where guests can explore the buildings and view exhibits at their own pace. Wearing comfortable walking shoes helps when touring the outdoor grounds and examining the various structures spread across the property.

In 1918, crew members rescued 42 sailors from the British tanker Mirlo after a German submarine attack, an act of heroism that earned them gold medals from King George V. This dramatic rescue remains one of the most remembered moments in the station's history.