United States. Coast Guard. District, 17th

The Coast Guard is an amalgamation of five Federal agencies: the Revenue Cutter Service, the Lighthouse Service, the Steamboat Inspection Service, the Bureau of Navigation, and the Lifesaving Service. It received its current name in 1915 when the Lifesaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service merged. [From: U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office, web site: http://www.uscg.mil/history/].

From the description of U.S. Coast Guard, 17th District photograph collection [graphic], 1989-[ongoing]. (Alaska State Library). WorldCat record id: 61148153

Prior to the 1790's, the responsibility for navigational aids rested with colonial and state governments. In 1852, the Light-House Board was created within the U.S. Treasury Department and 12 lighthouse districts were formed, however Alaska was only added later, in a 13th district including Oregon and Washington. In January 1869, the government began to reserve lands for these purposes and George Davidson of the U.S. Coast Survey prepared a detailed report for Alaska, recommending specific locations for lighthouses, buoys and unlighted beacons. Congress largely ignored the report. No land was reserved in Alaska for navigational aids. In 1900, ersponding to increased interest in and travel to Alaska, Congress finally established twelve light stations along Alaska's coasts. All but 2 of the light stations remained functional until the 1960's and 1970's. [From "Aids to Navigation in Alaska History," Alaska Div. of Parks, Office of Statewide Cultural Programs, Nov. 1974, pp. 4-18.].

From the description of Light stations in Alaska slide collection [graphic], 1955-1963. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 54912387