Old Harbor Life-Saving Station

Surrounded by sand dunes and ocean, the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station Museum chronicles the history of the United States Lifesaving Service, a government agency chartered to patrol the coastline and save victims (and cargo!) of shipwrecks.   Created in 1871, this agency utilized stations such as the one in the picture to base operations for these life-saving duties. This building was actually built in Chatham, Massachusetts in 1898, one of thirteen stations along Cape Cod’s ocean-side beaches. It was moved to this location on Race Point in 1977 and now serves as a museum. When in operation, crews kept watch for ships in distress, ready to use surfboats, breeches buoys, and other apparatus to save shipwrecked sailors and passengers.   Part of my portfolio of photographs, this image uses an artistic software filter to impart a painterly appearance; prints are available from my Pixels shop.