The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The late 1800s saw devastating shipwrecks along the Outer Banks, including the Huron and Metropolis disasters in 1877, which claimed the lives of nearly 200 people. These high-profile incidents garnered national attention and spurred Congress to establish the Life-Saving Service to prevent similar tragedies.
“The first was in 1877, when a ship named the Huron sank just 200 yards off the North Carolina shore. 98 out of 134 people on board died.”
“Less than two months later, another ship called the Metropolis went down. Another 85 people died.”
“Congress established a rescue service called the Life-Saving Service. Basically a precursor to the Coast Guard.”