Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum is a historic site located within Delaware Seashore State Park. Self-guided tours of the museum are offered year round and provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the history of the United States Life-Saving Service, precursor to the current day U.S. Coast Guard.Not only is the Indian River Life-Saving Station open for tours, it also acts as the "hub" for all educational and recreational programs held within Delaware Seashore State Park. Programs cover a wide range of topics and activities from local maritime history to guided kayak tours.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
99 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
25
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
0
AlpinerHut
Chantilly, VA1,226 contributions
Jul 2021
It's the audio tour (via your cellphone) that really brings this old life-saving station alive again.
Designed in 1874, the Indian River Life-Saving Station was the base of operations for U.S. Life-Saving Service members responsible for rescuing shipwrecked mariners (and valuable cargo) along the Delaware Coast. After the USLSS merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the Indian River station became a Coast Guard station. Today, it is a museum within Delaware Seashore State Park.
The audio tour leads you room by room. There's a restored rescue boat inside the building and a weathered one outside. You see where the men worked, slept and ate. It was a dangerous life, illustrated by their slogan: "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back." Place settings were always kept on the kitchen table, promising the men a good meal if they DID make it back!
TIPS:
* It's a very short walk from the museum to a nice beach behind the dunes (though I don't believe the beach has lifeguards unless you're counting on some USLSS ghosts).
* A short distance south on Coastal Highway, there's an interesting bridge over Indian River Inlet.
Designed in 1874, the Indian River Life-Saving Station was the base of operations for U.S. Life-Saving Service members responsible for rescuing shipwrecked mariners (and valuable cargo) along the Delaware Coast. After the USLSS merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the Indian River station became a Coast Guard station. Today, it is a museum within Delaware Seashore State Park.
The audio tour leads you room by room. There's a restored rescue boat inside the building and a weathered one outside. You see where the men worked, slept and ate. It was a dangerous life, illustrated by their slogan: "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back." Place settings were always kept on the kitchen table, promising the men a good meal if they DID make it back!
TIPS:
* It's a very short walk from the museum to a nice beach behind the dunes (though I don't believe the beach has lifeguards unless you're counting on some USLSS ghosts).
* A short distance south on Coastal Highway, there's an interesting bridge over Indian River Inlet.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary P
New Castle, DE6 contributions
Sep 2015 • Family
I was born and bred in Delaware, now 64 years young, I learned a great deal about Delaware history at the Indian River Life-Saving Station outside of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware! I had NO idea how many lives were saved because of the station! Such a great place to stop by and visit - friendly, knowledge filled staff, amazing blast from the past history lesson. Wonderful gift shop! I will be back to visit for sure, hopefully many times! Thank you!
Written September 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vegman
Delaware61 contributions
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.
Written December 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula Jackler
West Orange, NJ63 contributions
The Indian River Life-Saving Station offers many interesting facts about men who used to risk their lives to save so many others'. Before going the museum, you watch a 3-minute long video about the history of the Life-Saving station, so you get situated; the video is not boring at all and has the right amount of information. When buying the tickets, you receive the information to set a museum guide on your cell phone; it's really useful, you can do it at your own pace and is has interesting information. I went there on a cold Saturday morning in March and still had a good time. I highly recommend it!
Written March 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwen2014375
Gaithersburg16 contributions
Oct 2019
Great location on the beach; the building was closed when I went so check the hours. Still walking on the beach is great!
Written October 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary H
New Kensington, PA54 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
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 .
Written December 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Snowycat84
Baltimore, MD205 contributions
Nov 2014
Room was overcrowded, glue gun electric cords all over the place! The young lady leading the class was not very helpful at all! She basically said, "grab some shells, there's plenty of ribbon, and go to it!" She should of at least given a bow making talk! I have done floral arranging classes and went only to do a "girl afternoon" with my best friend! We've done jewelry making classes there that were nice, wreath making was waste of time and money!! At end of class, I suggested they use TACKY GLUE instead of hot glue because everyone was complaining about the cords and burnt fingers! She replied, "oh I have a bottle of that." Definitely needs improvement in that class!
Written December 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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!
Written December 15, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gogogram63
75 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
This is a nice museum for young children (6-10) . Interesting movie and sometimes they offer interesting lectures but they could offer more educational/interactive options. This is a state run facility that is small.
Written December 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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!
Written December 15, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ted S
Dagsboro, DE717 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
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.
Written November 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Snowycat84
Baltimore, MD205 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
Excellent! Learned the cage method for wrapping sea glass to create a necklace! It was fun and the staff teaching the class were very helpful! (Katy and Margaret!) All materials were included in the $15 fee. Looking forward to the earring making class next!
Written July 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingIndian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park
- Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
- Hotels near Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park:
- (4.40 mi) Atlantic View Hotel
- (4.21 mi) The Bay Resort Waterfront Hotel
- (3.89 mi) Hyatt Place Dewey Beach
- (4.15 mi) Beach House Dewey
- (1.48 mi) Delaware Seashore State Park
- Restaurants near Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park:
- (7.49 mi) Seedbol (SEED eatery)
- (5.80 mi) Frank & Louie's Italian Specialties
- (5.80 mi) La Fable
- (5.68 mi) Shorebreak Lodge
- (5.70 mi) Henlopen City Oyster House
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park Information
Excellent Reviews | 63 |
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Very Good Reviews | 25 |
Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum at Delaware Seashore State Park Photos | 47 |