Spermaceti Cove Lifeboat Station
In 1848, eight lifeboat stations were built along the New Jersey coast between Sandy Hook and Little Egg Harbor. You are looking at the only surviving structure of the original eight. It was moved here from its Sandy Hook location in 1954 to be preserved as part of the Twin Lights Historic Site.
Lifeboat stations were placed on the beach because the rescue equipment was too heavy and awkward to be hauled long distances. A keeper and volunteers staffed the buildings to provide rescue services to shipwreck victims.
In 1872, this original lifeboat station building was replaced with a larger one and, as the United States Life Saving Service grew into a professional organization, a third and final building was constructed in 1894. The third building is now preserved by the National Park Service and serves as the Sandy Hook National Park Visitor Center.
Second Marker:
Spermaceti Cove Lifesaving Station
Originally located at Spermaceti Cove on Sandy Hook, this station was one of the first built in the U.S. The station contained apparatus for rescue of shipwreck survivors. The U.S. Lifesaving Service and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service merged in 1915 into the U.S. Coast Guard.
Marker can be reached from Lighthouse Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
