Posted in Virginia May 10, 2020 by Beth

The Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum Has A Fascinating And Haunting History

Virginia has an incredible collection of unique museums that offer insight into our state’s residents, history, and culture. Perhaps one of the most fascinating and underrated of them all is the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum. Located right on Atlantic Avenue, this building once operated as the Old Coast Guard Station. Today, visitors can learn about the history of the beach as well as the area’s maritime heritage.

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Built in 1903, the building which now houses the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum holds an impressive amount of history.

Originally, this structure served as a U.S. Coast Guard Life Saving Station with a lookout tower for keeping an eye on water activity.

The water at Virginia Beach is notoriously treacherous, given that it is the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, it was important for the city to have a team of guards and rescuers at the ready.

The museum features fascinating exhibits that tell the tale of Virginia Beach tourism, which escalated in the 1880s.

In fact, there used to be ropes put in place on the beach for visitors who felt uncomfortable with the idea of swimming too far out.

There's also a portion of the museum dedicated to shipwrecks. Visitors can marvel at some of the various items that have washed ashore over the past century.

As you can imagine, there's something haunting about revisiting the area's surf and rescue history.

Visitors have reported hearing maniacal laughing as well as other disembodied voices near the building.

The museum hosts a haunted walking tour of the area every October. You might just have to join in and investigate for yourself!

Curious to learn more about the first lifeguards of Virginia Beach? Be sure to watch this brief video below, courtesy of the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum: