The sister service of the old United States Lighthouse Service was the United States Life-Saving Service. The Life Saving Service was dissolved in 1916 and merged into the United States Coast Guard. Because of its gigantic coastline, one of the most active places for the Life-Saving Service was the coast of Michigan where many life saving stations were built. The acts of heroism and bravery along Michigan's coast by these keepers and surfmen have rarely been recounted in modern times. The author has compiled in this book a photographic history of the Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes region and immortalizes the men who paved the way for the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1854, the U.S. Government provided funds for lighthouses, boats, and life-saving equipment along the Atlantic seaboard to allviate shipping disasters. These early efforts greatly reduced the number of lives and property lost to shipwrecks. In the heart of the midwest, however, the Great Lakes alone claimed 4500 vessels, 1300 people, and more than 27 million dollars in monetary damages between 1855 and 1876. These staggering losses promoted Congress to pass legislation putting the United States Life-Saving Service into operation in Michigan and other Great Lakes states. Pictured in this book are almost 200 images and detailed captions you will find Michigan's 38 Life-Saving Stations and their crews along the Great Lakes, including Ottawa Point, Grand Haven, Holland, and South Manitou Island. The author, William Peterson, has collected the photographs for this book from museums throughout Michigan. These remarkable images chronicle the efforts, activities, and lives of the people who made it their duty and life's work keeping the lake waters safe. This soft cover book, through its many vintage photographs will give you a better insight into that era.

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