The Coast Guard, now a division of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, provides essential services to the maritime industry including:
among other missions.
Boston is the headquarters of U.S. Coast Guard District 1 .
We have numerous documents about and authored by the Coast Guard but few that pertain directly to Boston or District 1. Writers are fascinated with the Coast Guard’s dramatic rescues at sea and there are a number of books to be found on that topic, as well as many general histories of the service.
Aids to Navigation mark hazards to navigation by vessels approaching and in the Port of Boston. In Federal waters, the aides are placed and maintained by the United States Coast Guard.
Aides may include lighthouses, buoys, beacons and dayboards. Along with numerous buoys marking the channels, there are currently lighthouses in Boston Harbor: Boston Light, Long Island Head Light, The Graves Light – significantly fewer than in the past as electronic navigation has replaced them.
A Coast Guard blog post provides a history of the aides in U.S. waters: 225 Years of Service to the Nation: Aids to Navigation
Our collection of lighthouse bulletins is extensive.
The Boston Marine Society was founded in the 18th century to aid families of sea captains in times of distress. Full membership is granted only to those who hold Unlimited Ocean Master’s Licenses. The Society has a significant role in port safety through its authority to appoint all State Commissioned Pilots. It also supports the education of mariners and advises on matters related to navigational safety.
We hold some interesting documentation of the Society and its members in its Special Collections. These items are available to view by appointment in our reading room. Contact the Special Collections staff for details on locating and viewing them.