U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office

Historian's Office (CG-09224)
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2100 Second Street, SW
Washington, DC  20593-0001

(202) 372-4651
(202) 372-4653
Fax: (202) 372-4984

Email: Click Here

Resources of the Historian's Office

The Historian's office maintains a collection of material that complements, and to some degree, duplicates the holdings in the National Archives. The collection consists of approximately 500,000 unique and accessible images and a much smaller number of documents.   The office is also responsible for managing the Coast Guard's artifact collection and the service's museum at the Coast Guard Academy.

The collection is open to researchers by appointment but walk-ins are welcome during our core business hours (0800-1630). Letter, email and telephone inquiries are answered to the most complete degree possible given the small staff. The major categories of material in the office are broken down into several major categories.

1. Cutter Files--these files consist of all or part of the following: photography, brief histories, news clips, decommissioning documents, and operational highlights.

2. Disaster/Event Files--predominantly maritime collisions, fires at sea, oil spills and rescues. This includes photography and marine investigations. Most of these files represent post-World War II events.  

3. Personnel Files--files on senior officers, lower ranked and famous personnel.

4. Aviation Files--almost exclusively photography that relates to the aircraft flown by the Coast Guard.

5. Aids to Navigation Files--includes lighthouses and lightships.

6. District Files--photography as well as documentation of various depots, offices, small boat/lifesaving stations and air stations.

7. Subject Files--collections of material pertaining to a diverse number of subjects. These are maintained alphabetically and range from files on the Coast Guard Academy to World War II.  

8. Manuscript Collection--collections of personal papers, photography, mementos, scrap books, etc., of former Commandants, officers, and personnel.

REFERENCE COLLECTION

This collection consists of several thousand books, pamphlets, manuals, directives, newsletters, etc. that deal specifically with the Coast Guard or are Coast Guard publications. Most significant are the old manuals and service publications.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Click here to access information on ordering photography from the collection of the Coast Guard Historian's Office.  Please feel free, however, to visit our office and use the copy stand we have available to make your own copies of any image in our collection!  You'll need to bring your own camera and film.

PUBLICATIONS

The Historian's Office has monographs pertaining to varied topics of Coast Guard history that are accessible through the web site. 

ARTIFACTS

Curatorial Services manages the Coast Guard's artifact loan program. Museums wishing to locate items for display should contact the Curator for guidance and procedures for loans. Click here for more information.

ACCESS & DIRECTIONS

The office is open to the public for research from Monday through Friday, 7:00 am until 4:30 pm. We suggest that individuals wishing to use the collection call and make an appointment in advance but walk-ins are welcome as well during our business hours.  

There are no restrictions to the use of the collections of the Coast Guard Historian's Office.

How to Contact Us:


By Mail:

Historian's Office, CG-09224
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2100 Second Street, SW
Washington, DC  20593-0001

By Telephone:

(202) 372-4651
(202) 372-4653
FAX: (202) 372-4984

Via Email:

When contacting our office via email, please remember to include your postal mailing address.  We currently receive many email requests.  Since the staff are few it may take some time for you to receive a reply.  Please be patient and allow at least 10 business days to receive a response.  Thank you. 

                       Email: U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office

Other Important Addresses:

  • Coast Guard Pacific Area Historian
    Dave Rosen, Ph.D.
    Commander (Pcp), Coast Guard Pacific Area
    U.S. Coast Guard Island, Building 42
    Alameda, CA  94501
    (510) 437-5888   Fax: (510) 437-5918         
    Email:  U.S. Coast Guard PACAREA Historian
  • Coast Guard Museum
    U.S. Coast Guard Academy
    15 Mohegan Avenue
    New London, CT 06320
    (860) 444-8511                        

Directions to the United States Coast Guard Historian's Office at Coast Guard Headquarters

Room B-717
2100 2nd St SW
Washington, D.C.  20953
(202) 372-4653

Directions to USCG HQ by Metro & Shuttle Bus: Click Here for detailed & illustrated directions

 

NOTE: limited to Federal employees or military personnel.

1. On the Metro, take the Orange, Blue, Green, or Yellow line to L'Enfant Metro Station. Exit to "L'Enfant Plaza 9th & D Sts SW".

2. Take the escalator.

3. At the top, you'll see an "AU Bon Pain". Make a right.

4. Go through the "D Street" exit door.

5. Once outside, walk towards the metro direction pole. You will see a set of stairs to your right.

6. Take the stairs. At the bottom of the steps, make a right.

7. The Coast Guard shuttle bus shares a stop with metro bus.  The shuttle goes straight to USCG Headquarters.  Then, the shuttle continues to the Jemal Riverside building and then back to the Coast Guard building to start the loop again.

8. The bus will drop you off at the V Street entrance to Coast Guard Headquarters and will depart from there.

9. The main building entrance for all personnel not issued a CGHQ Security Badge is the 2nd Street entrance (flag pole side-facing the marina and Fort McNair). Visiting Coast Guard and U.S. government civilian, military and contract personnel who do not have a CGHQ Security badge must:

1. Provide a U.S. Federal Government ID. 
2. Provide second form of identification (i.e. Drivers License) 
3. Submit themselves and any carried items to weapons screening. 
4. Wear and display the "Government Personnel" visitor badge at all times. 
5. All non-government visitor's are only authorized access into the CGHQ building via the 2nd street entrance. Visitor's must show a valid picture I.D., must be met, signed-in and escort by the CGHQ badge holder being visited. 

Directions to HQ by Driving

Where is Coast Guard Headquarters?

Geographically, USCG HQ is located at Buzzards Point in Southwest DC. We are next to Fort McNair (home of the National Defense University) and the Buzzards Point power station.  James Creek Marina is next to USCG HQ.   We are approximately one mile from the waterfront where the dinner cruise boats depart and about 2 miles from the Washington Navy Yard. 

Taxi

Ask the driver to take you to the address above.  Note: there will be a wait involved in getting a taxi to pick you up.  Taxi's do not frequently drive to this area unless called or are bringing passengers.

Out of town note: Make sure you identify the street as "Southwest".  Taxi's in Washington DC charge by an area system, not the distance or length of time.  Area rates are posted in the cab and the driver should be able to tell you the rates at the start of the trip.  If you take a cab out of DC or in from Maryland or Virginia, you will pay the meter rate.

Driving

Go to M street (in Southwest DC).  An easy way to get there is via Maine Ave by the SW Waterfront.  Once on M street turn, on to 4th St.  This will be at an intersection were M and 4th form a "T" and is where the entrance to parking at the Waterside Mall and the Safeway is.

The road will curve 90 degrees to the left, following the brick wall surrounding Fort McNair, and you will be on P Street. Follow this road to the end of the brick wall and take a right on to 2nd street. Proceed to the end of the street to the blue HQ building.

Parking presents the greatest problem at USCG HQ.  There are two general options for visitors:

  • Park on the street.

There is on-street metered parking on 1st and 2nd streets; there is some limited metered parking on V street (where the shuttle bus stops).  This parking is at your own risk.  Take the usual precautions in securing your vehicle.  The chances of harm coming to a vehicle in the form of theft or vandalism is slim, but increases the farther from HQ you park.

  • Park at the James Creek Marina parking lot.

This lot charges a daily fee for parking and has a variety of rates for weekly and monthly parking passes.  Parking passes can be purchased at the Marina office.

Directions to HQ by Walking

USCG HQ is about 3/4 of a miles from the nearest Metro Station (Waterfront-SEU stop) and it is not a safe walk as the neighborhoods surrounding headquarters can be dangerous!  Nevertheless, if you still want to do it...

When you exit the station, cross M Street and head down 4th Street.  The road will curve 90 degrees to the left, following the brick wall surrounding Fort McNair, and you will be on P Street.  Follow this road to the end of the brick wall and take a right on to 2nd street.  Proceed to the end of the street to the blue HQ building.

Last Modified 8/28/2008