Historic Life-Saving Station

Historic Image of the Life-Saving Station

Quick Facts

Location:

Fort Pickens Area

Amenities

8 listed

First Aid Kit Available, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Park Newspaper Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Restroom, Toilet - Flush

This building is one of the most iconic buildings in the national seashore. It was orginally constructed in 1885 to serve as the Santa Rosa Island Life-Saving Station. It was one of the two first life-saving stations in all of the state of Florida, and was home to the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

The original structure was a two-story building topped with an enclosed lookout tower that had windows on each side. The keeper, his family, and the crew lived on the second story. In 1907, the current building replaced the destroyed structure.

ith the establishment of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the Santa Rosa Life-Saving Station became Coast Guard Station 212.

In 1986, the U.S. Coast Guard relocated to Naval Air Station Pensacola. The old life-saving station became a part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Today the building serves as a ranger station and campground registration in the Fort Pickens Area.