East Beach Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Coast Guard Station--St. Simons Island
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The Coast Guard Station in 2015
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Location | 4201 First St., St. Simons Island, Georgia |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineer's Office |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000297 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1998 |
The East Beach Station, also known as the Historic Coast Guard Station, is an important building in St. Simons, Georgia. It was built a long time ago, in 1936. This station played a big role in helping people during World War II. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about the war and how people in Coastal Georgia helped.
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What is the East Beach Station?
The East Beach Station is a special building that was once a base for the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is a branch of the United States military that protects our coasts and helps people at sea. This station is located at 4201 1st Street in St. Simons.
Built During Tough Times
The station was built in 1936. This was during a time called the Great Depression, when many people did not have jobs. To help people find work, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started a program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA built many public buildings and projects, and the East Beach Station was one of them. It was one of 45 similar stations built by the WPA, and it is one of the few that are still standing today.
Heroes of World War II
The East Beach Station became very important during World War II. German submarines, called U-boats, were active off the coast of the United States. In 1942, a German U-boat attacked two American oil ships, the SS Oklahoma and the Esso Baton Rouge, near St. Simons Island.
The brave members of the Coast Guard at this station quickly responded. They helped rescue the sailors from these torpedoed ships. Their quick actions saved many lives during this dangerous time.
From Station to Museum
Today, the East Beach Station is no longer an active Coast Guard base. Instead, it is a museum called the World War II Home Front Museum: Coastal Georgia at War. The museum is run by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society.
At the museum, you can learn about what life was like in Coastal Georgia during World War II. You can see how people in small towns like Brunswick and St. Simons helped with the war effort. It shows how regular people contributed to a big historical event.
The Coastal Georgia Historical Society also takes care of the nearby St. Simons Island Lighthouse and the A. W. Jones Heritage Center. These places also teach about the history of St. Simons Island.
In 1998, the East Beach Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
