Granite obelisk used to designate one of the end points of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. This granite marker is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

"U.S. Coast Survey" inscribed on granite obelisk which marked an end point of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. It is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

"1847" inscribed on granite obelisk which marked an end point of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. This granite marker is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

"A.D. BACHE, SUPTDT" inscribed on granite obelisk which marked an end point of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. It is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

"BASE No. 5" inscribed on granite obelisk which marked an end point of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. It is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

Granite obelisk used to designate one of the end points of the baseline measured by Alexander Dallas Bache on Dauphin Island in 1847. This granite marker is now in Ft. Gaines at the entrance to Mobile Bay. Although moved from its original location, it is the oldest known Coast Survey marker on the Gulf Coast.

Classic paper on earthquake mechanisms and nature of faulting on the Mid- Atlantic Ridge which established beyond a doubt the nature of motion of transform faults on ridge systems. This was a major proof of the Theory of Plate Tectonics. Sykes was at the ESSA (forerunner of NOAA) Institute for Earth Sci ences and used data from the C&GS World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network.

The original coastal and offshore sounding database. The Coast Survey stored and archived its surveys from 1832 forward. Scientists such as Francis Shepard, Maurice Ewing, Harry Hess, and many others were frequent visitors to the C&GS for this data as well as magnetic, gravity, and seismological expertise prior to World War II.

Graphic representation of echo sounding and radio acoustic ranging navigation.

Graphic representation of radio acoustic ranging navigation (RAR) as used by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. With this system, the C&GS surveyed the continental shelf and continental slope of most U.S. waters prior to the World War II with unprecedented accuracy for far offshore surveys. Many discoveries were made including many unknown canyons, seamounts, and Mendocino Escarpment.

Offshore survey of the approaches to New York in 1936 showing delineation of Hudson Canyon and other previously unknown canyons. The diagram illustrates the use of various methods of navigational control including visual, taut-wire buoy traverses, and radio acoustic ranging (RAR).

Taut-wire sun azimuth controlled surveys. Basically a form of baseline measurement and triangulation that allowed positioning buoys for both visual surveys and RAR surveys far offshore. Accuracy was of the order of 1 part in 3000.

A cartoon of a survey ship approaching a radio acoustic ranging (RAR) radio sono-buoy. The radio sono-buoy technology was adopted by the Navy for World War II anti-submarine warfare and has continued evolving in increasingly sophisticated incarnations.

An early attempt by the great Coast and Geodetic Survey hydrographer Aaron Shalowitz to understand the nature of sound velocity in the open ocean. In this instance, this is a shallow water representation of the sound velocity structure and does not take into account what has become known as the deep sound channel.

Studies of changing configurations of barrier islands through time in the vicinity of present day Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Studies of changing configurations of barrier islands through time in the vicinity of present day Rockaway Inlet, New York.

Studies of changing configurations of barrier islands through time in the vicinity of present day Sandy Hook and Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey.

Sketch showing where very precise studies of the sound velocity structure of the ocean was conducted by the C&GS ships PIONEER and GUIDE in 1933. These studies were conducted to better understand the sound velocity structure for use with the radio acoustic ranging navigation system. Understanding of both reflection and refraction of sound in the ocean resulted from these experiments.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey signal placed on the top of Mount Shasta in 1879. By 1885, this signal was covered with the universal human urge to declare "I was here" and made it to the top.

A post card showing proof that a hardy group of tourists had made it to the top of this 14,000 foot plus peak. The proof is in touching the C&GS marker left there by Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel in 1879.

Night and holiday pass to get into Commerce Building for Arthur Howerter, a Coast and Geodetic Survey employee. A continuation of World War II security measures.

Night and holiday pass to get into Commerce Building for Arthur Howerter, a Coast and Geodetic Survey employee. A World War II security measure that allowed critical Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel and those on shift work to get into the main Department of Commerce Building.

Department of Commerce, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, identification card during Cold War era.

Cold War era instructions telling employees where to assemble in the event the main work place was destroyed in an attack.

Cold War era instructions giving employees instructions as to what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.

If you happen to survive an atomic attack, mail this card to the local Civil Service Commission and wait for a reply. Instructions follow on images cgs00941 through cgs00945.

If you happen to survive an atomic attack, mail this card to the local Civil Service Commission and wait for a reply. Instructions follow on images cgs00941 through cgs00945.

Page 1 of instructions for what to do following an atomic attack.

Page 2 of instructions for what to do following an atomic attack.

Page 3 of instructions for what to do following an atomic attack.

Page 4 of instructions for what to do following an atomic attack.

German W/T (wireless-telegraphy) transmitter antennas located by photogrammetry.

German W/T (wireless-telegraphy) transmitter antennas located by photogrammetry.

United States Coast Survey Brig Washington monument at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Wien Alaska Airlines float plane providing transportation for Coast and Geodetic Survey crew.

Fueling Wien Alaska Airlines float plane by hand. Coast and Geodetic Survey crew waiting for transportation to the next station.

Doing something with a tree stump in a lake somewhere in Alaska

Rowing rubber raft used for transportation somewhere in Alaska

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway. Can't shoot the mosquitoes so needed netting to protect skin.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway. Modeling the latest in mosquito netting.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway. Whether the knife doing the shaving or the cigar endangering putting the beard on fire is the worst danger, the barber shop patron has yet to decide.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway. It's a long way to anywhere from the Alcan Highway. The Canada-Alaska border.

Survey crew camp life on the Alcan Highway. Posing at the Alaska-Canada border.

Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation crew at the Chandelier Tree in Underwood Park.

Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation crew at the Chandelier Tree in Underwood Park.

Coast and Geodetic Survey triangulation crew at the Chandelier Tree in Underwood Park.