Today is National Coast Guard Day! The US Coast Guard was founded on August 4, 1790 to prevent smuggling and help the new nation enforce its trade laws. It was around 1915 when the Coast Guard got its name and was authorize by then Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to build 10 cutters. Today the U.S. Coast Guard oversees maritime safety and security, national defense, mobility, and the protection of natural resources. On average the US Coast Guard saves 13 lives a day.

Celebrate this Saturday, August 8th at the Old Coast Guard Museum with free admission from 10am – 3pm. There will be a Helicopter Search and Rescue Demo at 1pm!!

We are lucky enough here in Virginia Beach to have The Old Coast Guard Station Museum. The museum is house in the 1903 Life-Saving Station at the oceanfront near 24th St. It houses 2 galleries: US Life Saving & Coast Guard Services and Shipwrecks off the Virginia Coast. There are over 1800 artifacts and 1000 photographic images to view. They host a costumed story teller for children ages 3 -9 and conduct a Ghost Walk on Shipwrecks and Ghostlore in Virginia Beach. For more info on the museum, please click here

The Coast Guard in Hampton Roads has a free activity page! click here