The study of the architecture of the United States Life-Saving stations was undertaken to trace the development of a single building type: the coastal rescue stations which housed men and equipment engaged in bringing ashore victims of shipwrecks. Formed in 1848, the United States Life-Saving Service was the only government supported lifesaving.system in the world, all other organizations being either volunteer or private societies. The Service began its activities with the building of eight small, unmanned volunteer boathouses along the New Jersey coast during 1849, and the following year it was extended to the south shore of Long Island. After the Reorganization of 1871 established paid crews to live in the stations, the Service embarked on a building program which eventually led to the construction of stations on the Atlantic, Gulf, Great Lakes and Pacific coasts. In 1915 the United States Coast Guard was formed to take over the Service. Nearly all stations were built from standardized plans and specifications designed by architects working directly for the Lifesaving Service. Most reflected current architectural trends. This study was undertaken to determine how many different plans were drawn, how many stations of each type were constructed, where they were located and the architects responsible for their designs. Using architectural plans, photographs and secondary sources a history of the Service was written focusing on the design and construction of the stations. Lists were then compiled of each type built.

Theses (M.A.)--Marshall University, 2006. / Includes abstract. Originally issued in electronic format. UMI number: 1434476. Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-108). Also available via the World Wide Web.