Coast Guard History
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get copies of Coast Guard logbooks?
Coast Guard logbooks are considered permanent records. Depending on the time period you are interested in, these logbooks are stored in a number of locations. Please read through the following to determine their location:
For copies of logbooks and any other documents, including reports, correspondence, etc. from the period 1790 to approximately twenty years ago from today, please contact to the National Archives:
National Archives I
7th & Pennsylvania Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20408Or visit their website for further information:
Life-Saving Service station logbooks and reports, 1871-1915:
These have been transferred to the regional national archive nearest the station's location. Contact the main National Archives for further information:
National Archives I
7th & Pennsylvania Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20408Or visit their website for further information:
Coast Guard Station logbooks and other records, 1915 to approximately twenty years ago from today:
National Archives I
7th & Pennsylvania Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20408Logbooks from Cutters, Tenders, Stations and other reports created within the last twenty years:
NARA’s primary research facilities are those located in Washington, DC and College Park, MD. NARA, however, also maintains regional archives and federal records centers throughout the nation. For those locations you should consult the NARA website at www.archives.gov. It should be noted that some of the records contained at these regional repositories may still be under the control of the Coast Guard. Access can only be granted by the respective Coast Guard District’s FOIA Officer. For more information on the process for gaining access you should contact the Coast Guard FOIA officer by mail or fax at:
- United States Coast Guard
Attn: FOIA Officer (G-SII)
2100 2nd Street, SW
Washington, DC 20593
(202) 267-4814 (fax)Determine which homeport the cutter had or the location of the station and write to the corresponding Coast Guard District FOIA officer:
- First CG District
Attn: FOIA Officer
Coast Guard Bldg.
408 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110-3350
- Fifth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
Federal Bldg.
431 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004
- Seventh Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
909 SE First Ave.
Brickell Plaza Federal Bldg.
Miami, FL 33131-3050
- Eighth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
Hale Boggs Federal Bldg.
501 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130-3396
- Ninth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
1240 East 9th St.
Cleveland, OH 44199-2060
- Eleventh Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
501 W. Ocean, Suite 7170
Long Beach, CA 90822-5399
- Thirteenth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
Jackson Federal Bldg.
915 Second Ave.
Seattle, WA 98174-1067
- Fourteenth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
Prince Kalanianole Federal Bldg.
300 Ala Moana Blvd., 9th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96850-4982
- Seventeenth Coast Guard District
Attn: FOIA Officer
PO Box 25517
Juneau, AK 99802-5517