The tour is set up so that you can "page" through it. Click here to begin or choose the link below you are interested in.
The US Life-Saving Service and the Manitou Passage	Because of the many shoals and storms that come up, the Manitou Passage could be dangerous to travel. The list of ships that have run aground or sunk is long. In 1879 a lifesaving station was founded on North Manitou Island, but one was badly needed at Sleeping Bear Point.
The Station at Sleeping Bear Point	In 1877 the U.S. Life-Saving Service decided to place a station at Sleeping Bear Point, but it was not until 1901 that the money was appropriated. The structure was designed for a seven man crew to live in and also served as headquarters.
The Keeper and His Crew	The keeper had to be able to keep logs and records--the ability to read and write. Being able to handle boats was important, especially important was the strength and skill to row a boat in rough seas. It was the job of the keeper to put a crew together, six men began work at the station by late summer of 1902.
Beach Rescue Drills	To ensure the "readiness" of the men, beach rescue drills were done every week. The preferred means of rescue involved the beach apparatus. The beach apparatus included a cart that could be pulled down the beach by men or by horse. On the cart was a Lyle gun, line, powder for the gun, and a breeches buoy. A beach rescue was only possible within 350 yards of shore.
Surfboat Drills	The surfboat was another rescue tool the Lifesaving Service used. The men would perform drills that required them to launch the boat through the surf and row for 30 minutes, another part of the drill was to flip the boat over and then right it.
Lookout and Patrol	Lookout and patrol were the two most important tasks of the surfmen. At the Sleeping Bear Point Station a surfman was on lookout from sunrise to sunset. On foggy days and at night there were also beach patrols. Men walked the beach for a set distance in one direction, until they reached a watchman's clock. They never failed to walk the beach in the worst of weather.
"The Closest Land is Straight Down"	This is a true story about the rescue of the crew of the schooner J.H. Hartzell. This rescue did not involve the Sleeping Bear Station, but the station to the south at Pt. Betsie. Near Empire Bluffs, the Hartzell ran aground with a crew of eight: a captain, six men, and a woman cook named Lydia Dale.
"Hours and Hours of Boring Routine"	A typical week was dominated by drills and patrols. Although the drills seemed endless, they made people confident and sure that they would react quickly, without thinking, in a real rescue.
Move to Glen Haven	Over the years, drifting sand began to bury the buildings, and the pounding surf made launching boats difficult. In 1931, the Sleeping Bear Point Lifesaving Station was moved by horses, rollers, track, and cable.
The tour is set up so that you can "page" through it. Click here to begin or choose the link below you are interested in.
The Freshwater Seamen	When a wreck was spotted, the crew at the boathouse would rush to the small building for their equipment and risk their lives to help the men and women stranded on the water. Often they would go out in their surfboats, which were specially designed to withstand the turmoil of the harsh freshwater sea.
The Boat House	The Boat House at the Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station was built in the mid 1800's when the volunteer Life Saving Service was developed. When an accident occurred the men mobilized, getting the boats to the beach and casting off. The Boat House was the cleanest building in the station.
Rememberance	A fictional essay about a young boy's memories of his father's job as a member of the Lifesaving Service.
History of the Coast Guard	Ever since the invention of the boat, shipping has been a major industry. Due to the volume of shipping, the resulting shipwrecks and the loss of lives, a solution was needed to help decrease the number of deaths in the Manitou Passage. Congress listened to the people and decided to enlist voluntary crews to save the lives of passengers and sailors when ships were in distress or wrecked.
Hobbies of the Crewmen	There were many free, open hours at the life saving station. You might wonder what the surfmen did in there spare time. These men used their spare time just like any other men of that time period.
Surfboats	The boathouse was our first stop on the tour of the station. We were amazed at how simple they appeared, yet how sophisticated they really were. The first surfboat, as they were called, was a 23 foot BB McClellan.At the discretion of the Keeper, the surfmen could also use a different boat called a Higgins and Gifford.

www.schoolship.org/maritime/