The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Richard Etheridge led the P.I. Island Life-Saving Station, believed to be the only all-black crew in the Life-Saving Service history, from 1880 until his death in 1900. The crew achieved significant rescues despite facing societal barriers and even arson from relatives of Etheridge who sought better positions.
“Richard Etheridge was the first keeper of the P Island Life-Saving Station, which was the first, uh, and for a long time believed to be the only all-black station in the history of the Life-Saving Service.”
“When Richard got the head job, the white crewmen left, which was completely predictable. And then he took the remaining black surfmen from the rest of the Outer Banks stations and brought them in, and that formed the all-black crew.”
“In 1996, Richard Etheridge and his crew were posthumously awarded the highest Coast Guard award, the Gold Lifesaving Medal.”