indian river life-saving station museum at delaware seashore state park

A museum of interest . Was the forerunner to todays US Coast Guard . Can be toured in less than an hour , and well worth the drive .

Hi Snowycat, thank you for your review! I am very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the wreath-making class but I very much appreciate your feedback. Every time we offer a program we learn something new and if we offer wreath-making in the future, we will be sure to include more instruction, alternative glues, and limit the class to a smaller number of participants. I am happy to hear that you have enjoyed our sea glass program in the past, and I hope that your wreath-making experience was just a one-time negative experience and you will continue to attend programs at Delaware Seashore State Park! Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Hi GoGoGram! Thank you for your review as I take our customer feedback very seriously. I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the museum and I would encourage you to return during the "peak season" (mid-June through mid-August) as we offer a wide range of educational and interactive interpretive programs for all ages. If you want a sneak preview of what we will be offering in 2015, visit our website, click on the programs calendar for Delaware Seashore, and scroll back to a week in July; you will see that we offer over 20 programs each week. In addition, if you want more child-friendly programs involving the Life-Saving Station, I would highlight the "Surfmen Superheroes" program and the "Breeches Buoy Demonstration", as well as the Maritime Heritage Festival. The festival will be held this year on Sunday, July 19th, 2015 from Noon-4:00. Our summer 2015 programs should appear on the website some time in April. Thanks again for visiting us and we hope to see you again!

A little bit chilly, but a interesting place to go. The station was built in 1876 and has some unique architecture. Many tools and pieces of equipment that were used by the crew in ship rescues. Personal items have been donated from family members who's ancestors served at the station. In the fall and winter you can get a idea of the weather conditions the crews had to work in, it amazing that someone would go out in a small boat to do this. The location at the inlet is even isolated today. This time of the year the tour is shelf guided, it may warrant a return in the summer when knowledgeable docents are available to take your through the station.

The life saving station has regular programs including hikes. On Saturday we took a hike with a guide to Thompson Island. Although I live nearby, I had never heard of Thompson Island. The guide, Margaret, was very knowledgeable about the island, the former Native American inhabitants, the salt marsh, and plants, trees. We had a great time and will definitely take another hike with the Life Saving Stations. Some of the programs have small fees, but this one was free. Reservations are often required. To find out about what they offer, access their web site.

Built in 1876 this is a restored original life saving station that was a precursor to the Coast Guard. The building contains furnishings and artifacts illustrating the hard times experienced by the brave "surfmen" who worked very hard during bad storms to rescue both sailors and cargo from foundering ships. The facility is part of the Delaware State park system and offers easy parking and a gift shop. A unique system for broadcasting verbal explanations of what you can see here is offered from your cell phone. Folks just wandering by the ocean could in principle just walk into the museum without paying the minimal fee. To block that from happening they chain off beach access. This will appeal to anyone feeling the history of the site.

We like the well restored facility and the tour, located on the Ocean, great parking, nice people, and a real nice gift shop.

This is a great little museum, perfect for family groups. Watch the video to get a good introduction and then tour the actual lifesaving station to learn more and get a feel for what life was actually like for the men who patrolled the beaches watching for ships in distress. This museum also offers some great programs (surf fishing lessons, how to make sea glass jewelry, etc.).

Hi there! I am so disappointed that you did not enjoy your visit! You are correct in that we do not allow public beach access at the Life-Saving Station. If you tour the museum, a walk on the beach is included in admission. I'm sorry if that was not communicated to you and I will double check with our staff to make sure they are giving out correct information.If you intend to visit the beach for the day, we have 6 other access in the park that ARE public access (all within a 3 mile radius of the museum). Several of them have restrooms and/or full bathhouses with showers and changing rooms for your convenience. If you are looking for a less-populated and undeveloped access point, 3 access points simply have a dune crossing so you can still get the remote feeling experienced at the Life-Saving Station.The Indian River Life-Saving Station is one of the oldest buildings that still stands on the Delaware coast. The museum memorializes the harsh conditions and life-threatening work that the surfmen of the U.S. Life-Saving Service endured to save countless lives. If you return in the future, I highly recommend signing up for one of our guided Lantern Tours or attend our Breeches Buoy reenactment, a 19th-century shipwreck rescue technique. These programs really highlight the maritime history of our coast.Please feel free to contact me at the Life-Saving Station, should you have any other concerns about your previous visit. My top priority is to make sure our park visitors are enjoying their time spent in the park, whether it be at the museum or on the beach!

Quick stop on rainy afternoon turned out to be real learning experience. Senior rate of $3 informational film...but..tour of original 1800plus structure was fascinating. Keepers room safety boat and all surroundings especially on windy wave rising day showed true bravery of these pre Coast Guard men.

Very interesting place to visit. You can read about how they saved people from ship wrecks. They have demonstrations that portray the event. Actual boats and equipment used are on display.

We have been to the life saving museum before and enjoyed it. This festival was really geared to kids and we didn't have any with us this trip. We still enjoyed hearing from the local organizations that are protecting the seafaring history. There were lots of little games for kids, some food (limited) and admission to the museum was free. This is not a big event so it was not crowded. I would bring my grandkids.

A great place for a Wedding or to learn about area. Children can watch a movie and really learn about what an important role these brave me did.

We enjoyed visiting this museum with video, shop, and the actual station. It truly helped us to imagine what it must have been like to be employed at the life saving station, and the risks that they faced. Also, what daily life was like when things were calm. Very informative and one of the best historical sites in the area. Great for all ages. Highly recommend.

Taking the time and stopping by here was fantastic. Very informative information about the life saving that took place on the ocean. There is a wonderful ship to explore and learn from.