Beach Apparatus Drill Reenactment at Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Step back in time and experience one of the Outer Banks’ most fascinating living history demonstrations. Each Thursday during the summer, volunteers at the historic Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station recreate the famous Beach Apparatus Drill, showcasing how members of the U.S. Life-Saving Service rescued shipwreck victims long before helicopters, rescue boats, and modern technology. The demonstration includes the firing of a historic Lyle Gun, the setup of rescue lines, and a breeches buoy rescue simulation performed just as it would have been in the late 1800s.

Visitors will also enjoy a brief historical presentation before the live reenactment and learn about the heroic surfmen whose daring rescues along the Graveyard of the Atlantic helped shape today’s U.S. Coast Guard. Chicamacomico is one of the only places in the nation where the full Beach Apparatus Drill is performed regularly for the public.

2026 Dates: Thursdays, June 18 – August 27, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, Rodanthe
Cost: Included with site admission. Current admission rates are Adults $8, Seniors (65+) & Students $7, Children (4–17) $6, and Children under 4 are free. Admission helps support preservation and operation of this historic site.

Dates, times, and admission rates are subject to change. The final Beach Apparatus Drill of the 2026 season is scheduled for Thursday, August 27.