Lewes Maritime History Trail

The United States Life Saving Service (U.S.L.S.S.) was commissioned to rescue shipwrecked mariners along our nation's coast. Established in 1876 and 1884, repectively, the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations worked together to save thousands of lives, hundreds of ships, and recover millions of dollars worth of cargo.
Perhaps the most significant event in the history of the Cape Henlopen and Lewes stations was the Great Blizzard of March 12 -14, 1888, when a clear and calm late winter's day turned into a ferocious "white hurricane". Years later, the Life-SavingService Surfman recalled that the winds blew ice and sand so hard it "could cut your eyes out." Sailors lashed themselves to the rigging to avoid being washed overboard, but it meant death for many who froze and died there.
In 1915, as sailing ships were replaced by steam-powered vessels and wrecks occurred with less frequency, the U.S.L.S.S. merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Show me all markers in:  Lewes, DE  |  Sussex County  |  19958  |  Delaware  |  United States of America

Overfalls Lightship
The Blizzard of 1888
Menhaden Fishing Industry
Lightship Overfalls
Frederick E. Hudson
Hiram Rodney Burton House
Harbeson Railroad Station Privy
Milk House
Burton-Ingram House
John Penrose Virden

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