Duck in Dare County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Caffey's Inlet, U.S. Lifesaving Station No. 5

Photographed By Kevin W., September 5, 2021

1. Caffey's Inlet, U.S. Lifesaving Station No. 5 Marker

Inscription. Caffey's Inlet Station was one of the original seven stations built along North Carolina's treacherous coast in 1874 when the U.S. Lifesaving Service was founded. Within a few years there were twenty-nine stations and this was the fifth one numbering from the Virginia line. The first building was destroyed by fire and was replaced by this structure in 1899.

The mission of the U.S.L.S.S. was the systematic saving of shipwrecked victims, their cargo and the ships in that order. In 1915, the Lifesaving Service was joined with the Cutter Revenue Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard. This station had been decommissioned by the 1950'.

The Lifesaving Station was renovated in 1977 and opened as the Sanderling Inn Restaurant in September 1985.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 36° 13.37′ N, 75° 46.232′ W. Marker is in Duck, North Carolina, in Dare County. Marker can be reached from Duck Road (State Highway 12), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1461 Duck Road, Kitty Hawk NC 27949, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Field Research Facility (approx. 3 miles away); Powder Ridge Club (approx. 3.7 miles away); Thomas J. Jarvis

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(approx. 5.4 miles away); Wreck Of The Metropolis (approx. 7.6 miles away); Currituck Sound (approx. 9 miles away); Take a Boy Fishing in North Carolina (approx. 9.1 miles away); Monument to a Century of Flight (approx. 9.2 miles away); The Knights (approx. 10.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Duck.

Caffey's Inlet, U.S. Lifesaving Station No. 5 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., September 5, 2021

2. Caffey's Inlet, U.S. Lifesaving Station No. 5 and Marker

Photographed By Kevin W., September 5, 2021

3. Lyle Gun

This photograph was taken inside the restaurant. The photo under the Lyle Gun has the caption, "Life Saving Device. The Lyle Gun, employed to shoot lines over shipwrecks."

Rasmus S. Midgett image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., September 5, 2021

4. Rasmus S. Midgett

This photo was taken inside the restaurant. It has the following caption: On the morning of August 18, 1899, Rasmus Midgett on beach patrol from Gull Shoal Station, came upon the wreck of the barkentine Priscilla blown ashore by a fierce hurricane. Ten men were stranded facing certain death. Not having time to return to the station for help, Midgett battled through the surf alone and one by one brought all 10 men safely ashore. For that feat of bravery Rasmus S. Midgett was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal of Honor exhibited here.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2021, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 375 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2021, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on October 4, 2021, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.