Program announced for Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station’s 150th Anniversary Celebration on October 12-13

September 13, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

1874 Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. Photo by Joy Crist.

2024 marks the 150^th anniversary of North Carolina’s first seven Life-Saving Stations, and the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe is hosting a two-day celebration on October 12-13 to mark the milestone.

The United States Life-Saving Service was the predecessor to the modern U.S. Coast Guard, and in 1848, the U.S. Government provided funds to New Jersey to establish life-saving services along its coast.

By 1874, funds were appropriated to build seven stations on the coast of North Carolina, due to its centuries-long reputation as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Chicamacomico was the first of the seven stations to be fully operational, and it is the only station that now serves as a full-time public museum and attraction.

The upcoming anniversary celebration and commemoration, which will be held on the grounds of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, has a range of events and activities to commemorate the station’s past and present.

“Saturday will be all about the way it was back then,” said John Griffin, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Executive Director. “Sunday will be more about the way things are done now.”

The schedule is evolving and more activities, presentations, and other note-worthy programs will be announced as the October celebration draws closer.

In the meantime, the tentative schedule is below, and folks can keep tabs on updates in the weeks ahead by visiting the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station’s website.

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station and Historic Site. Photo by Joy Crist.

Saturday, October 12

The Way It Was Done Back Then

9:00 a.m. – Flag Raising

9:00 a.m. – Chicamacomico open for Tours

9:30 – D. Christian Thompson will give a porch talk about research and restoration of the 1874 Station

11:00 a.m. – Kevin Duffus will present “Unheralded Heroes: The Cape Fear Life-Savers of 1893 at the RWS Community Building

12:15 p.m. – Grab lunch on your own or from one of the Food Trucks in the parking lot

1:15 p.m. – Beach Apparatus Drill (Rescue Drill)

2:30 p.m. – M/C Carl Smith CDR USCG (ret)

Presentation of Colors by Camden HS USCG Jr ROTC
National Anthem sung by Caitlyn Grey
Master Chief Christopher Hinote (The USCG Ancient Keeper)
NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Education Curator Ben Wunderly
CHA President Larry Grubbs
USCG District 5 Commander RADM “Jay” Vann (Keynote)
Jackie Wenberg representing Descendants
NPS Leader (Dave Hallac or Robin Schneider)

Patriotic Music will be provided by members of the CHSSCS band. The USCG will conduct a Flyover during the afternoon.

4 p.m. – Tolling of the Bell ends the Program.

Sunday, October 13

The Way It’s Done Today

8:00 a.m. – Flag Raising

8:15 a.m. – Outer Banks Sporting Events will offer a “Surfman’s Challenge” Fun Run on the Beach: see their website (obxse.com) for details.

8:45 a.m. – Breakfast at the RWS Community Building (Ticketed event limited to 100)

9:00 a.m. – Chicamacomico open for Tours

USCG Auxiliary will have an information booth throughout the morning, along with Sammy the Sea Otter and Coastie the Tugboat. There will be an Ocean Rescue Demo by CBVF & Rescue.

12:00 – Lunch on your own or from the Food Trucks

1:30 p.m. – Choose your History Tour

Hatteras Island (Little Kinnakeet LSS, Hatteras Light, Native American Museum, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Oden’s Dock)
Upper Beach (Bodie Light, Kitty Hawk LSS {Black Pelican Restaurant}, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Wright Bros Memorial)
Manteo (NPS Freedom Trail, Richard Etheridge Grave, Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, History Center (Mon Only)