Damariscove Lifesaving Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Damariscove Lifesaving Station
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Boothbay, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Mendelheff, Victor |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000924 |
| Added to NRHP | June 25, 1987 |
The Damariscove Lifesaving Station is an important old building located on Damariscove Island in Boothbay, Maine. It was built in 1897 to help rescue people from shipwrecks. This station stands out because of its unique design compared to other similar buildings from that time.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 1987. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting. Today, the station is owned by private individuals.
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What Does the Damariscove Lifesaving Station Look Like?
Damariscove Island is the furthest island south in a group of islands off the coast of Maine. These islands help form the eastern side of Boothbay Harbor. The island itself looks a bit like the letter "Y" turned upside down. There's a narrow water channel between the two bottom parts of the "Y".
The Damariscove Lifesaving Station sits right on the western side of this channel. It's a wooden building with 1.5 stories. The different parts of the building have sloped roofs. A cool, eight-sided tower stands at the southeast corner, used for watching the sea. The part of the station where boats were kept extends out to the east. Its large doors face north, ready for boats to launch.
The History of the Damariscove Lifesaving Station
How the Life-Saving Service Began
The United States Life-Saving Service was created by the U.S. government in 1874. Its main job was to rescue sailors and passengers from ships in trouble along the coasts and waterways. Think of them as brave heroes who would rush to help during storms or accidents at sea.
Between 1874 and 1929, this service built twelve stations along the coast of Maine. These stations were vital for keeping people safe.
Building the Damariscove Station
The Damariscove Lifesaving Station was built in 1897. It was designed by Victor Mendelheff, who was the main architect for the Life-Saving Service. What makes this station special is its unique eight-sided observation tower. It also has a more detailed and fancy architectural style compared to other stations built around the same time.
The station was staffed by the Life-Saving Service. Later, the United States Coast Guard took over its operations. It continued to be an active rescue station until 1959. After that, it was no longer used by the Coast Guard. Today, the Damariscove Lifesaving Station is owned by private individuals.
