NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service r c;~~ ('f\ National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (formerly 168). Complete each item by entering the requested information. ___X~_ New Submission ____ Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing U.S. Government Lifesaving Stations, Houses of Refuge, and pre-1950 U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboat Stations B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Federal Government Lifesaving Programs from 1848 to1950, overview and administrative history, nationwide. American Lifesaving Practices and Technology, techniques and equipment, nationwide, 1848 to 1950, Significant Persons Associated with Federal Lifesaving Programs, individuals, nationwide, 1848 to 1950. C. Form Prepared by: name/title Daniel Koski-Karell, Ph.D., USCG CG-47, and Melissa Wiedenfeld, Chad Blackwell, Marjorie Nowick, Kathryn Plimpton, and Lori Vermass, HDRje2M organization U.S. Coast Guard Office of Environmental Management (CG-47) street & number 2100 2nd Street SW- STOP 7901 city or town Washington state DC zip code 20593-7901 e-mail DanieLA. Koski-Karell @uscg.dhs.gov telephone (202) 475-5683 date 23 January 2013 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. Chief, CG-47 Federal Preservation Officer Title United States Coast Guard State or Federal Agency or Tribal government I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in theN· i naJ Register. Date of Action NPS Fmm I 0-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service U.S. Government Lifesaving Stations, Houses of Refuge, and pre-1950 U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboat Stations Nationwide Name of Mul tiple Prope1ty Lis ting State Table of Contents for Written Nanative Create a Table of Contents and list the page numbers for each of these sections in the space below. Provide narrative explanations for each of these sections on continuation sheets. In the header of each section, cite the letter, page number, and name of the multiple property listing. Refer to How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form for additional guidance. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts (If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) See Continuation Sheets for Section E. Federal Government Lifesaving Programs from 1848 to1950 E-1 to E-16 American Lifesaving Practices and Technology E-16 to E-22 Significant Persons Associated with the Federal Lifesaving Program E-22 to E-27 F. Associated Property Types (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements.) See Continuation Sheets for Section F. F-1 to F-27 G. Geographical Data See Continuation Sheets for Section G. G-1 to G-39 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) See Continuation Sheets for Section H. H-1 I. Major Bibliographical References (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) See Continuation Sheets for Section I. I-1 to I-17 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.460 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 250 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, PO Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1 024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Not applicable National Park Service Name of Property Nationwide a-n-:d:-:S::c-ta-:t-e--· National Register of Historic Places County U.S. government Lifesaving Stations, Continuation Sheet Houses of Refuge, and Pre-1950 U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboat Stations Section number E Page 1 Name of multiple listing (if applicable) --=~ E. Statement of Historic Contexts Federal government Lifesaving Programs from 1848 to 1950 The economic history of the United States is characterized by a substantial reliance on maritime transportation of goods and people. Waterborne transportation has been important from colonial times to the present and will continue to be so into the future. While nautical transport is generally efficient and economical, it is subject to a variety of hazards and perils. These include bad weather, dangerous obstructions, and collision, to name just a few. A vessel may run afoul of reefs, rocks, or shoals due to environmental conditions or human enor and thereby be wrecked with loss of life and cargo. The story of waterborne transportation in America includes many thousands of incidents where vessels have been damaged, destroyed, or sunk. Intertwined with this story is the related history of maritime lifesaving. This is a significant aspect of marine transportation in which the U.S. federal government has been actively involved since the mid-nineteenth century. These federal efforts are exemplified today by the U.S. Coast Guard's fulfilling its search and rescue mission requirement to aid persons in distress and minimize property damage or loss in the maritime environment. The federal government has been active in maritime lifesaving since 1848. In that year, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds that were used by the U.S. Treasury Department to construct and equip lifesaving boathouse stations along the New Jersey coast. This federal lifesaving station program was administered by the Treasury Department's Revenue Marine division and expanded over time to other states. The crews of these stations consisted of local volunteers who mobilized in response to an emergency and were rewarded for successful rescues. The system combined government facilities and volunteer staff, and had mixed results. In 1871, Congress appropriated funds to the Treasury Department's Revenue Marine division to hire paid employees to staff its system of federally-supported lifesaving stations. Under the leadership of the Revenue Marine's General Superintendent, Sumner Kimball, the number of federal lifesaving stations grew, and the competency and professionalism of the staff who operated them increased. The U.S. Life-Saving Service (USLSS) was established as a separate agency within the Treasury Department in 1878, with Kimball as its Superintendant. During following decades the network of professionally-staffed lifesaving stations continued to expand along the nation's coasts. These facilities generally included a station building with integral living quarters and boat storage space. Other structures commonly included were a flagpole, a wreck pole, lookout tower, equipment storage sheds, privy, and a water collection system. A number of stations had separate buildings for the crew's dwelling and the boathouse, and sometimes a lifeboat launch way and garage. In 1915, the U.S. Life-Saving Service was merged with the Treasury Department's Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). An emphasis on maritime lifesaving continued as an important Coast Guard mission and many former U.S. Life-Saving Service properties became USCG lifeboat stations. This multiple property documentation form addresses the historical background and architecture of the federal government's lifesaving program. It includes discussion of stations constructed prior to the establishment of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, USLSS stations, and pre-1950 USCG lifeboat stations. A number of these properties exist today and several continue to be operated as U.S. Coast Guard Stations. Some portion may merit being listed, or determined eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. The information contained herein is provided to assist in the process of evaluating properties for potential National Register status. Antecedents of American Maritime Lifesaving Losses of ships and boats have affected seafaring societies all over the world throughout recorded history. Efforts at rescue occurred in response to specific events and