Discover the History of the U.S. Life-Saving Service

US Life Saving Service

Outer Banks historian continues WWI lecture series at  NC History Center – July 18

Outer Banks historian, author and public speaker James Charlet will give a free lecture about the forgotten heroes of the United States Life-Saving Service at Tryon Palace’s North Carolina History Center from 1-2 p.m., Saturday, July 18.

The average American has never heard of the United States Life-Saving Service, yet these men were stationed on all of America’s coastlines and saved hundreds of thousands of lives from 1871-1915.

As site manager of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site and Museum, Charlet will focus on the 1918 rescue of the British tanker SS Mirlo, which was attacked by a German submarine near the end of World War I. The rescue was launched from Chicamacomico Station in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island and it would become the most highly awarded maritime rescue in American history.

This free lecture is part of a World War I lecture series held throughout the summer in collaboration with the exhibit “North Carolina in the Great War,” open through Sept. 13 at the North Carolina History Center. Additionally, this lecture is being held in conjunction with Tryon Palace’s World War I Weekend. Held at the North Carolina History Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 17-18, this first-time event invites visitors to discover the stories and images of World War I through artifacts, photos, reenactors and exhibits.

For more information call 252-639-3500 or visit www.tryonpalace.org.

Upcoming events at Tryon Palace include:

July 17: Lunch and Learn: Francisco de Miranda’s Journey to America

July 17-18: World War I Weekend

July 21: Jonkonnu Workshop

July 25: Injured Soldiers, Wounded Societies

Submitted by: Craig Ramey, Marketing and Communications, Manager, Tryon Palace