U.S. Coast Guard Arguello Lifeboat Rescue Station

USA / California / Lompoc /
 place with historical importance, dock (maritime), United States Coast Guard, interesting place
The lifeboat rescue station was constructed in 1936 in the New Deal Colonial Revival style. The station ceased operations on December 31, 1941 and tranfered to the U.S. Navy on February 10, 1958. The station was later transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1966.

It was revamped in the early 1980s to receive the Space Shuttle external fuel tank, which would travel from Louisiana vía barge and be used at the nearby SLC-6. It still receives rocket components too large to be flown or trucked over the narrow mountain roads.
The aerial photo was made by the California Department of Boating and Waterways survey in either 1972 or 1979.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°33'20"N   120°36'38"W

Comments

  • I believe the name of this facility was the Pt. Arguello Naval Weather Station. It was described in a book called Sea Guide of Southern California as being a harbor of refuge. In 1973, it had a pier with three sets of marine railways leading from the boat house to the water, where the rescue boats were launched. The harbor had shoaled to a depth of 4 feet at MLLW at that time.
  • Whatever it is, it is clearly visible from the AMTRAK Coast Starlight. I've added two pictures I shot in Oct 09.
  • The last five photos are HABS-HAER photos from the Library of Congress.
This article was last modified 14 years ago