Life Along the Manitou Passage / Sleeping Bear Point Lifesaving Station
Move to Glen Haven
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Coast Guard Station shortly after being moved
Coast Guard Station shortly after being moved. ca. 1931
Over the years, drifting sand began to bury the buildings, and the pounding surf made launching boats difficult. In 1915, The U.S. Life-Saving Service was combined with another agency to form the current U.S. Coast Guard. In 1931, the station was moved by horses, rollers, track, and cable.

With new navigation aids like radar, radios, depth sounders, and other inventions, plying the Passage became safer and there was less need for the Life-Saving Stations. The station near Glen Haven was closed during World War II and was not active until 1971 when Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore took it over. In 1982-1983, the station was restored to its 1931 appearance.

Today, the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station stands as one of the finest existing reminders of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and early Coast Guard and is open to the public. The boathouse is currently the most complete (houses the boats and equipment used at that time) in the United States.
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