U.S. Life Saving Station 30

06/16/2024

U.S. Life Saving Station 30 Museum Open for the 2024 Season
Come visit the U.S. Life Saving Station 30 museum, located at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue, where the history of ocean rescues comes to life. The museum is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Starting in July, the museum will be open seven days a week. Admission is free.

Built in 1885, the station housed seven surfmen and a keeper on 24/7 watch for shipwrecks. Tour the station and learn about the heroic acts of the surfmen who saved passengers, crew and cargo from shipwrecks off Ocean City’s coast more than 100 years ago.

While at the station, say “hi” to surfman Charlie (known for his Walrus mustache), check out new artifacts, try on the life jacket of the day – a canvas vest lined with cork, and play the antique music box in the dining room. (There are lots of photo ops!)

06/14/2024

U.S. Life Saving Station 30 Museum Open for the 2024 Season

Come visit the U.S. Life Saving Station 30 museum, located at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue, where the history of ocean rescues comes to life. The museum is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Starting June 24, the museum will be open seven days a week. Admission is free.

Built in 1885, the station housed seven surfmen and a keeper on 24/7 watch for shipwrecks. Tour the station and learn about the heroic acts of the surfmen who saved passengers, crew and cargo from shipwrecks off Ocean City’s coast more than 100 years ago.

While at the station, say “hi” to surfman Charlie (known for his Walrus mustache), check out new artifacts, try on the life jacket of the day – a canvas vest lined with cork, and play the antique music box in the dining room. (There are lots of photo ops!)

07/21/2023

Strandings and Shipwrecks
The surfmen of US Life Saving Station 30 risked their lives saving passengers, crew, and cargo off the shores of Ocean City, N.J., in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At that time, about a hundred schooners a day sailed by our shores. The surfmen of US LSS 30, known as “storm warriors,” responded to an average of four shipwrecks a month.
Here’s a look at rescues that occurred during the month of July involving US LSS 30 and nearby stations:
July 5, 1884—The Annie M Reynolds stranded in the Great Egg Harbor Inlet. (While LSS 30 wasn’t built until 1886, it’s likely that some form of Life Saving Service station, manned by volunteers, existed on the island as early as 1852.)
July 12, 1909— The Marie capsized in Great Egg Harbor S 3 miles.
July 27, 1889—The Edward H. Furber grounded at Corson’s Inlet South Bar.
As reported in archives, while on a trip to the Promised Land, Long Island (New York) to Philadelphia with a cargo of fish scrap, the schooner Edward H. Furber of New York ran ashore off Corson’s Inlet, New Jersey, nearly three miles northeast-by-east of the Sea Isle City Station and, with the freight, became a total loss.
She stranded at midnight during a moderate on-shore breeze. A thick fog prevailed at the time, and heavy surf broke on the beach. Her position wasn’t discovered until 7 o’clock in the morning when she was sighted by the engineer of a passing railroad train, who contacted the keeper of the Sea Isle Life Saving Station.
The keeper hurriedly collected the most available crew for the surfboat. The regular surfmen were off-duty for the summer season. They were prevented by the fog from seeing the “recall flag” that was hoisted at the station when their services were required. When the life-savers arrived they found the vessel full of water, and breaking up, the seas washing over her.
The sailors (six in all), with their baggage, had sought safety in the fore rigging. They were taken into the surf boat and conveyed to the station, where they remained two days.
The Furber went to pieces the following night.

07/21/2023

12/01/2022

Daybreak light show above LSS #30, November 27, 2022

07/13/2022

USLSS Station #30 later served as a Coast Guard Station during the World Wars, guarding the beaches against landings by potential spies and saboteurs.

Join us Thursday, July 14 for a fascinating look at the devastating impact German U-boats had on merchant shipping off the Jersey Shore during World Wars I & II. Guest Speaker Dan Cashin will be presenting in the Lecture Hall at the Ocean City Free Public Library at 7pm. View our Summer Exhibit, 'World Wars off the Jersey Shore' at the museum before the lecture!

12/30/2021

US Life-Saving Station 30 will be open for First Night visitors on New Year's Eve from 4-10 pm! For those who have never seen our rare gem from Ocean City's past, this will be a great off-season opportunity to peek inside a nearly-lost chapter of our history!