The United States Life-Saving Service was established in 1871 to rescue victims of shipwrecks and other maritime disasters. The first generation Seatack Life-Saving Station was one of five stations built in Virginia Beach and was constructed in 1878. It was replaced by the current structure built in 1903. The facility came under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard in 1915 and was renovated in 1933 for a new generation of service. Decommissioned in 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard Station was acquired by the city of Virginia Beach in 1979. In 1981 the building was moved 200 feet to its present location, also on the oceanfront, and restored as a museum. Distinguishing original features are the boat doors, lookout tower, and cedar-shingled walls.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Nomination Form
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia