Lewes & Rehoboth Hundred near Millsboro in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Indian River Life-Saving Station

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

1. Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker

Inscription. With the expansion of the nation’s maritime commerce following the Civil War, the need for improved methods of assisting ships in distress was apparent. Built in 1876 by the United States Life-Saving Service, the Indian River Life-Saving Station was part of a network of similar facilities which were constructed along the Atlantic seaboard. In 1915, the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service were merged to form the modern-day United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard continued to operate the Indian River Station until it was decommissioned following a devastating coastal storm in 1962. The property was later transferred to the State of Delaware. For a time the Station was utilized as a maintenance facility by the state’s Transportation agency. Then it became part of Delaware Seashore State Park. In 1997, the facility was extensively renovated and restored to its 1905 appearance. It is now operated by the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation in partnership with the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation.
The Indian River Life-Saving Station was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Erected 2001 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number SC-148.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 38° 38.018′ N, 75° 4.055′ W. Marker is near Millsboro, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Lewes & Rehoboth Hundred. It is on Coastal Highway (Delaware Route 1), on the right when traveling north. located on Route 1 in the Delaware Seashore State Park, 3 miles south of Dewey Beach or 1 mile north of the Indian River Inlet bridge. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 25039 Coastal Highway, Millsboro DE 19966, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shipwreck of the Faithful Steward (approx. 0.4 miles away); Indian River Inlet and Bridge (approx. 1.7 miles away); Charles W. Cullen Bridge (approx. 1.7 miles away); Sand Bypass System (approx. 1.7 miles away); United States Life-Saving Service (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Sand Bypass System (approx. 1.8 miles away); Catching Waves (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Indian River Inlet and Bridge (approx. 1.9 miles away).

Regarding Indian River Life-Saving Station.
National

Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker, looking north along Coastal Highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

2. Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker, looking north along Coastal Highway

located at the driveway for the Station and Museum

Register of Historic Places:
Indian River Life Saving Service Station **
(added 1976 - Building - #76000582) •
Area of Significance: Transportation •
Period of Significance: 1875-1899 •
Historic Function: Transportation •

"The Indian River Life Saving Station is a relic of the days when the Delaware coast was a notorious graveyard of ships. It stands near the site of the old Indian River inlet, scene of many shipwrecks from colonial times forward. The building is one of the oldest surviving lifeboat stations on the coast." Edward F. Neite (1976)

Also see . . .
1. Indian River Life-Saving Station. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Indian River Life-Saving Station. Delaware State Parks entry (Submitted on December 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Indian River Life Saving Service Station - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

The Indian River Life Saving Station is a relic of the days when the Delaware coast was a notorious graveyard of ships. It stands near the site of the old Indian River inlet, scene
Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

3. Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker, looking south along Coastal Highway (State Route 1)
of many shipwrecks from colonial times forward. The building is one of the oldest surviving lifeboat stations on the coast.

(Submitted on April 24, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker and Rehoboth Bay, seen in background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

4. Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker and Rehoboth Bay, seen in background

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 9, 2013

5. Indian River Life-Saving Station Marker

Indian River Life-Saving Station , one-time tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

6. Indian River Life-Saving Station , one-time tower

Indian River Life Saving Service Station<br>Elevation from the West. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Edward F. Heite, 1976

7. Indian River Life Saving Service Station
Elevation from the West.

1976 National Register of Historic Places Property Photograph.

Indian River Life-Saving Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

8. Indian River Life-Saving Station

Indian River Life-Saving Station , todays look image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

9. Indian River Life-Saving Station , todays look

Indian River Life-Saving Station, one-time crow's nest image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

10. Indian River Life-Saving Station, one-time crow's nest

Atlantic Ocean at background

Indian River Life-Saving Station, nearby is one-time Coastal Defense Watch Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud

11. Indian River Life-Saving Station, nearby is one-time Coastal Defense Watch Tower

Looking out for enemy aircraft and submarines, a part of the Delaware coastal defense network

Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 11, 2010

12. Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,399 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on September 29, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on October 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on September 29, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on October 19, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.