Commentary: The importance of the 1874 Life-Saving Station Celebrations

As an internationally published author of the United States Life-Saving Service on the iconic North Carolina Outer Banks, I commend the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (LSS) and Museum for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the seven 1874 stations added to the treacherous North Carolina coast. However, the 1874 date in the history of this amazing Service […]

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Commentary: Launching increased coverage to rescue the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station

A non-resident couple who owns a beach box Hatteras Island vacation home has generously donated the entire cost of a half-page ad in the upcoming 2025 Outer Banks Visitors Bureau publication, The Outer Banks Travel Guide. Our OBVB donor asked to remain anonymous, but they clearly expressed a love for the Outer Banks, a passion […]

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Commentary: The vision for rescuing the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station

For more information on the background of the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, click here The dream of rescuing the historic 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard can become a reality. As with so many things, ideas and visions morph and evolve. My first thoughts were of only using the building as a Visitor Center. My first […]

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Commentary: Rescuing and Repurposing the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station – Another potential use

For more information on the background of the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, click here About the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station As millions of travelers land upon the famous Hatteras Island by crossing the impressive new Marc Basnight Bridge, (which locals still refer to as the Oregon Inlet Bridge), the visitor sees a beautiful but mysteriously […]

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A serendipitous day at Keeper James’ book signing in Rodanthe

My wife Linda Molloy and I have done a great number of programs and book signings all over eastern North Carolina, and particularly our home Outer Banks, but one of our all-time favorite venues is the Island Convenience store in Rodanthe, very close to our home. We know them well and appreciate the Midgett/Caldwell family […]

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Commentary: Saving the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station will help Hatteras Island… And Hatteras Island can help the 1898 Oregon Inlet Station

For more information on the background of the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, click here Do you want to be part of the heroic rescue of the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station? If so, ‘how to’ will be at the end. But first, a brief background. How the 1898 Station Will Help Hatteras The Outer Banks […]

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Nonprofit dedicated to saving the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station is moving forward

Its name is the Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group. The broad name is to match its broad objective, starting with rescuing the 1898 Oregon Inlet U.S. Life-Saving Service (LSS) Station No. 16. Here is the Oregon Inlet LSS Station’s brief background, or ‘How It Got into This Mess.’ It started in 1988 when […]

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Island History: The attempted rescues of the famous Outer Banks Ghost Ship, the Carroll A. Deering

One of maritime history’s most enduring mysteries involves the iconic names of Cape Hatteras, Diamond Shoals, Graveyard of the Atlantic, and the term “Ghost.” There has been much discussion about the possible explanations; there has been little about the actual Coast Guard rescue attempts. Much has been written and told about the famed ghost ship […]

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Commentary: Rescuing the 1898 Oregon Inlet United States Life-Saving Service Station No.16… PART I

By James D. “Keeper James” Charlet © 2024 Sitting majestically, solitarily, invitingly – but alone – as millions of travelers land upon the famous Hatteras Island by crossing the new Marc Basnight Bridge, is a beautiful but mysteriously abandoned building. It is, (it was), the Oregon Inlet United States Life-Saving Service Station. It is in […]

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Island History: An interesting follow-up to the SS Central America Story

This is a follow-up to the Island History article on the SS Central America, published on September 10, 2023. The Herndon Monument stands on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The monument is also known by its alternative long name of “Commander William L. Herndon, USN 1813-1857.” It is a 21-foot-tall […]

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