Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station
Also known as: USCG Station
Why it's listed
Built about 1897 on Nauset Beach northeast of Chatham, the Old Harbor Life Saving Station later served as a Coast Guard station. It is a shingled, one-and-a-half-story frame building with jerkin-head gables and an off-center tower, a design that replaced the simple pitched-roof stations of 1872. Between Monomoy and Provincetown, about forty miles of coast where more than 2,000 shipwrecks occurred, it is the oldest such station still standing within Cape Cod National Seashore. In its first five years, its crews rescued 21 people by surfboat and removed 13 by breeches buoy. The station was abandoned in 1947 and sold as surplus, and some exterior changes followed under private ownership. Two small storage sheds on the site have been used as dwellings. The sea is eroding the beach quickly, and the nomination warned that the building would be lost unless it was moved. It was listed for its age, design and link to Cape Cod's maritime rescue history.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest remaining life saving or Coast Guard station on the shores of Cape Cod National Seashore, between Monomoy and Provincetown. It is a rare reminder of the age of sail and of the Life Saving Service crews who rescued shipwreck victims by surfboat and breeches buoy. It also represents a later station design with a jerkin-head gable and off-center tower.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000159, listed August 18, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Chatham on Nauset Beach, Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | August 18, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000159 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Conservation, Military, Architecture, Communications, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sold as surplus in 1947 and later privately owned, now federal property. Some exterior alterations were made, and the interior is little changed. The site is threatened by rapid erosion, and relocation is suggested. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.69792, -69.92902 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15263794
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.