Tatham Life Saving Station and Museum

Tatham Life Saving Station and Museum At A Glance...

Climb the tower of a real, restored 1895 U.S. Life-Saving Service station for views of the ocean, Hereford Inlet and the back bays.
See an authentic surfboat, the kind surfmen rowed through the breakers on rescue missions.
The station is the oldest building in Stone Harbor.
Murals by Post member James J. Thompson show the station's history and the life-saving equipment the surfmen used.
Tours are free, and one stop covers a life-saving museum, a military museum and the tower.
Todays Sunrise: 7:07 am, Sunset: 6:22 pm
New Jersey Southern Shore Region Cape May County

About Tatham Life Saving Station and Museum

The Tatham Life Saving Station, built in 1895, is a restored U.S. Life-Saving Service station and the oldest building in Stone Harbor. It tells the story of the "surfmen," the crews who rowed out through the surf to rescue shipwrecked sailors, and who were the precursors to the modern U.S. Coast Guard. The station is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Today it is the home of Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post 331, which bought the deactivated Coast Guard station and restored it. Post and Sons of the American Legion volunteers lead free tours. On the first floor, a life-saving museum has a restored surfboat, historic photographs, wall panels on how rescues worked, and murals of the station's history. The second floor holds a military museum with artifacts that local veterans brought home from the nation's conflicts since World War I. The tower gives a panoramic view of the south end of Seven Mile Island, the ocean, Hereford Inlet and the back bays that the surfmen once watched for ships in trouble.

Amenities:
- Restrooms/Bathrooms
- Parking - Street Parking Only
- Parking Lot(s)
- Lighthouse
Park Type:
- Veterans / Memorial
Attractions:
- Lighthouse
- Museum / Gallery
Rules/Regulations:
- Alcohol Not Permitted

Contact / Location

Primary Address:

Get Directions 11617 Second Avenue,
Stone Harbor, New Jersey 08247

Contact:

A Brief History

The U.S. Life-Saving Service built this station in 1895 as the replacement for the earlier Tatham station on Seven Mile Beach. Richard C. Holmes was appointed keeper of the Tatham station in 1876. In the 1890s the government paid $600 to lease the land from the Seven Mile Beach Company. The Service merged into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, and the building later became a Coast Guard station.

After the government gave up the station, the land went back to the Seven Mile Beach Company. Stephen C. Ludlam Post 331 of the American Legion, chartered in 1946, bought the property and named itself for PFC Stephen C. Ludlam of Stone Harbor, who was killed in action at age 19 near Ostheim, France, on January 23, 1945, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross after his death.

In the early 2000s the Post faced a failing roof and asbestos siding and weighed selling the building. It chose to restore it instead, and the Post's commander now calls it the jewel of Seven Mile Island.

Programs / Education

Post and Sons of the American Legion volunteers lead the tours and are glad to answer questions about the exhibits and the history of the Life-Saving Service, which makes it a good stop for visitors of all ages.

Things to See & Do

The tour starts with the life-saving museum on the first floor. Get an up-close look at the surfboat, the vessel surfmen rowed through treacherous waves on rescue missions, along with historic photographs, equipment and wall panels that explain how a rescue worked. Murals fill the walls with the station's history.

Upstairs, the military museum shows artifacts from the nation's wars since World War I, including items local veterans brought home. Finish in the tower for the view south over Stone Harbor and out to sea. Out front, custom paver bricks honoring veterans are set in front of the main entrance.

Best Time of Year to Visit

Free guided tours run from Flag Day (June 14) through Labor Day weekend, so summer is the main season, and the stop pairs well with a beach day. The Post also holds open houses with tours and free refreshments after its Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, and the station takes part in the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey in October. The Post is closed in February and March.

Trip Ideas

Combine a visit with a beach and history day: spend the morning on Stone Harbor's beaches and the afternoon at the station. For a nature and maritime tour, pair it with the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary or The Wetlands Institute. After the tour, stroll 96th Street for shopping and dining in Stone Harbor's town center.

Lighthouse fans can pair the station with the Cape May Lighthouse, another stop on the Lighthouse Challenge.

Special / Seasonal Events

The Post holds three major ceremonies each year, on Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day, and each ends with an open house that includes guided tours of the building and free refreshments. In summer it hosts pancake breakfasts and a spaghetti dinner.

In October, the station is a stop on the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey (October 17 and 18, 2026), a weekend challenge to visit 11 lighthouse sites, 4 life-saving stations and 1 museum. Registration is $10 at any stop and includes a souvenir book of Revolutionary War stories from places along the coast, with a sticker to collect at each one.

Tips and Tricks

Check the tour schedule before you go, because the tours are volunteer-led and seasonal. Ask questions, since the Post members who lead the tours love sharing the stories behind the exhibits.

Picnics / Lunches / Eating

There are no food or picnic facilities at the museum itself. However, it is located just a short distance from the many cafes, restaurants, and ice cream shops in downtown Stone Harbor.

Hours / Season of Operation

Free summer guided tours start on Flag Day (June 14) and end Labor Day weekend, every day except Wednesday and Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm. In 2026 the Post lists tours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, ending September 7. The tours cover the life-saving museum on the first floor, the military museum on the second floor and the tower views. The Post is closed in February and March.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking lot for the museum. Visitors will need to find street parking along Second Avenue or nearby residential streets. Be sure to observe any posted parking regulations and time limits, especially during the busy summer season.