Former U.S. Coast Guard Station Rockaway (New York City, New York)

USA / New York / New York City, New York / Rockaway Point Boulevard, 169
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With the closure of USCG Station Rockaway ended over 150 years of lifesaving service in Rockaway. Rockaway Point Station was established in December 1849 on the shore of Long Island by the New York Life Saving Benevolent Association. Ten small buildings were built, each containing "...one of Francis's life boats, a mortar for throwing rockets with lines attached from the shore to the wreck, also on of Shepard's box stoves, fuel, provisions, cooking utensils, etc...." It later became part of the U.S. Life Saving Service when it was created in 1871.

Around 1912, a Lorain-type building was constructed in the southeast corner of Fort Tilden. It had a three-story lookout tower. In later years, it was used as USCG Rockaway's recreation center. Nothing is thought to remain of it today.

Today, the site is known as Riis Landing. Plans for this site include its use as a ferry terminal and ground transportation hub. The US Coast Guard operates a seasonal small-boat station from the former USCG Station Rockaway Piers, with crews from USCG Station New York and the local USCG Auxiliary manning the assigned boats during the busier summer months.

www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/gateway.aspx
reocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/4634/uslss.html
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Coordinates:   40°34'4"N   73°53'4"W

Comments

  • I was station at Rockaway from 1950-1951 we performed search & rescue missions There were 2 38 ft cutters one gasoline one desiel engine a 36 ft lifeboat and a 30 ft boat we called Jitterbug the commanding officer name was John J. Gibbs whom I also serviced with him from 1947-1949 on the LV 87 (Scotland) off Sandy Hook N.J. which we serviced for calibration for merchant ships compass purposes
  • I have a 1922 manual titled "Instructions for United States Coast Guard Stations". It's signed in pencil by Surfman #5 G.E. Pittman, of Fort Tilden Lifeboat Station. If anyone has any information on G.E. Pittman, I would appreciate a reply. I like to see a family member receives this manual.
This article was last modified 12 years ago