United States Lifesaving Service

The United States Lifesaving Service station in Nome, Alaska, and her boats and volunteer crew.

During bad weather, when there were large waves, it was more effective to push or tow a special carriage into the surf, and launch the ship at the height of an incoming wave floated the boat off the carriage.

The United States Lifesaving Service was one of the agencies amalgamated into the United States Coast Guard in 1915. Other agencies included the United States Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Lighthouse Service.

The service maintained lifesaving stations, which were run by a full-time Keeper. The Keeper maintained the station, a suitable row-boat, and a carriage for rolling the boat into high surf.

The Keeper recruited local volunteers to crew the boat. Keepers typically were quartered in the station's attic.