The Boothbay Region Historical Society is pleased to present the history of the U.S. Coast Guard in Boothbay Harbor through photographs and stories in our collections. The service began as a Revenue Cutter service before 1800. Then as the need for rescuing coastal mariners grew, by the 1850s lifesaving stations started to be set up along the coast. The focus was on the major ports and merchant vessels. The first station here was built on Damariscove Island in 1897. By 1915 the government combined the lifesaving and revenue cutter service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard remained a smaller service through World War I known only to the merchant vessels. Boothbay was a “small boat” station focused on rescue between Monhegan Island and Casco Bay. After prohibition became law, however, there was an immediate and major growth of Bootlegging. Rice Brothers Shipyard in East Boothbay was part of the major Coast Guard expansion as they built 10 Rum Chasers. The major expansion made the Coast Guard into the force they remain today.

Rice Brothers also built four steel hulled lightships for the Coast Guard between 1920 and 1950. Through World War II the Coast Guard was assigned to Navy activities, and the volunteer Coast Guard auxiliary was formed and grew to two hundred men. The Coast Guard also manned lighthouses. After the war, the need for expanded service to cover the local fishing fleet and recreational boating also expanded.

In 1959 the Coast Guard left Damarsicove Island and relocated to the Harbor. The vessels were upgraded first in the 1960s and then in the 1990s with the current 47-foot motor lifeboat.

Our collection includes the photographic story of our station and its crew, many of the vessels as well as ship models of the Lightships, a Fresnel Lens from the Ram Island Lighthouse, and more.

The society is located in the 1874 Elizabeth F. Reed house at 72 Oak Street Boothbay Harbor. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.