Seatack, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Seatack, Virginia was located in Princess Anne County
and is now part of the Oceanfront resort strip and adjacent area of the independent city
of Virginia Beach
. The Seatack community of Virginia Beach includes an area inland from the resort strip along present-day Virginia Beach Boulevard
. Seatack Elementary School is located nearby on Birdneck Road. The 1903 Seatack Station of the United States Lifesaving Service is now the Old Coast Guard Station Museum
located at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk.
where the community was the target of cannon balls fired from British ships and was where troops came ashore during an attack in the War of 1812
. The isolated stretch of beach place became known as "Sea Attack", and was gradually shortened to "Sea 'ttack", and then, finally, simply "Seatack".
Seatack was the location of the first "resort" hotel in 1884 which opened after a 19 mile-long narrow gauge railroad was built from Norfolk
in 1883. It was remodeled in 1888 and renamed the "Princess Anne Hotel", a massive 2 block wooden facility, which attracted vacationers from considerable distances.
In 1891, while hotel guests watched, surfmen
from the Seatack station of United States Lifesaving Service were involved in the rescue efforts for the Norwegian bark Dictator which ran aground near present-day 37th street. Seven lives were lost, including the Captain's wife and small child, leading to the Norwegian Lady
memorials and several local legends.
In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard
. The station at Seatack (built in 1903 to replace an earlier structure) is now a museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk
of Virginia Beach. The area's lifesaving history along the coast line of the Graveyard of the Atlantic
is commemorated at the Old Coast Guard Station Museum
which has artifacts from the shipwreck of the Dictator, displays of period lifesaving equipment, educational programs. There is also an online "Tower Cam", offering Internet users a similar view to those of members of the Lifesaving crews had over 100 years ago.
The Seatack Coast Guard Station
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
Another extant Coast Guard Station was located at Little Island. Located south of Sandbridge, it is owned by the City of Virginia Beach. However, the Little Island Coast Guard Station is not open to the public.
Princess Anne County, Virginia
Princess Anne County is a former county which was created in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States in 1691. The county was merged into the city of Virginia Beach...
and is now part of the Oceanfront resort strip and adjacent area of the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. The Seatack community of Virginia Beach includes an area inland from the resort strip along present-day Virginia Beach Boulevard
Virginia Beach Boulevard
Virginia Beach Boulevard is a major connector highway which carries U.S. Route 58 most of its length and extends from the downtown area of Norfolk to the Oceanfront area of Virginia Beach, passing through the newly-developed New Urbanist Town Center development of the latter as it links the two...
. Seatack Elementary School is located nearby on Birdneck Road. The 1903 Seatack Station of the United States Lifesaving Service is now the Old Coast Guard Station Museum
Old Coast Guard Station Museum
The Old Coast Guard Station Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of lifesaving on along the Atlantic coast.-History:In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard. The station at Seatack is now the museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk of...
located at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk.
History
Seatack was named because it was the point on the coast of rural Princess Anne CountyPrincess Anne County, Virginia
Princess Anne County is a former county which was created in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States in 1691. The county was merged into the city of Virginia Beach...
where the community was the target of cannon balls fired from British ships and was where troops came ashore during an attack in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The isolated stretch of beach place became known as "Sea Attack", and was gradually shortened to "Sea 'ttack", and then, finally, simply "Seatack".
Seatack was the location of the first "resort" hotel in 1884 which opened after a 19 mile-long narrow gauge railroad was built from Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in 1883. It was remodeled in 1888 and renamed the "Princess Anne Hotel", a massive 2 block wooden facility, which attracted vacationers from considerable distances.
In 1891, while hotel guests watched, surfmen
Surfmen
Surfmen was the terminology used to describe members of the United States Lifesaving Service. It is also currently the highest qualification in the United States Coast Guard for small boat operations.-External links:**...
from the Seatack station of United States Lifesaving Service were involved in the rescue efforts for the Norwegian bark Dictator which ran aground near present-day 37th street. Seven lives were lost, including the Captain's wife and small child, leading to the Norwegian Lady
Norwegian Lady Statues
Norwegian Lady Statues are located in the sister cities of Moss, a coastal town and municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway, and at the Oceanfront in the coastal resort city of Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States...
memorials and several local legends.
In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. The station at Seatack (built in 1903 to replace an earlier structure) is now a museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
of Virginia Beach. The area's lifesaving history along the coast line of the Graveyard of the Atlantic
Graveyard of the Atlantic
Graveyard of the Atlantic is a nickname of two locations known for numerous shipwrecks: the treacherous waters in the Atlantic Ocean along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Virginia coastline south of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay at Cape Henry; and around Sable Island, off the coast...
is commemorated at the Old Coast Guard Station Museum
Old Coast Guard Station Museum
The Old Coast Guard Station Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of lifesaving on along the Atlantic coast.-History:In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard. The station at Seatack is now the museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk of...
which has artifacts from the shipwreck of the Dictator, displays of period lifesaving equipment, educational programs. There is also an online "Tower Cam", offering Internet users a similar view to those of members of the Lifesaving crews had over 100 years ago.
The Seatack Coast Guard Station
Old Coast Guard Station Museum
The Old Coast Guard Station Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of lifesaving on along the Atlantic coast.-History:In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service became the United States Coast Guard. The station at Seatack is now the museum at 24th street adjacent to the boardwalk of...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
Another extant Coast Guard Station was located at Little Island. Located south of Sandbridge, it is owned by the City of Virginia Beach. However, the Little Island Coast Guard Station is not open to the public.
Internet
Books
- William O. Foss The Norwegian Lady and the Wreck of the Dictator. Virginia Beach, Virginia: Noreg Books, 2002. ISBN 0-9721989-0-3.
External links
- Geographical coordinates: 36°50′26"N 75°59′49"W (click for maps and satellite photos of Seatack, Virginia)
- Old Coast Guard Station at Virginia Beach, official web site
- Virginia Beach History, Old Coast Guard Station webpage