On 4 August 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, which authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. These vessels, known as revenue cutters, formed the Revenue Marine, the direct ancestor of today’s Coast Guard. At the time, the Revenue Marine was the only naval armed force of the new United States, predating the establishment of the Navy by eight years. Marking 236 years for the Coast Guard!
Over the following century, the Revenue Marine grew in both size and responsibility. In 1915, it merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, an organization dedicated to rescuing sailors in distress near the coasts, to form the United States Coast Guard. The new service combined the enforcement and patrol functions of the revenue cutters with the humanitarian rescue mission of the Life-Saving Service, creating the multi-mission organization that exists today.
Throughout the twentieth century, the Coast Guard played key roles in both World Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War, as well as in responding to peacetime disasters and enforcing increasingly complex maritime regulations. The service was transferred from the Department of Transportation to the newly created Department of Homeland Security following the September 11, 2001, attacks, reflecting its growing role in national security.
The United States Coast Guard Birthday is marked on 4 August each year, commemorating the establishment of the service on that date in 1790. The anniversary honors more than two centuries of maritime service, from the enforcement of early tariff laws under President George Washington to the Coast Guard’s modern-day missions in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and national defense.
How to Get Involved
Attend a Coast Guard open day or ceremony at a local station, cutter, or maritime facility
Thank a Coast Guard member or veteran for their service on 4 August
Learn about the Coast Guard’s history and modern missions through official publications and museums
Donate to organizations that support Coast Guard families, such as Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Share the hashtags below and help raise awareness of the service’s contributions
Marking 236 years for the Coast Guard!
On 4 August 1790, President George Washington signed the Tariff Act, which authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. These vessels, known as revenue cutters, formed the Revenue Marine, the direct ancestor of today’s Coast Guard. At the time, the Revenue Marine was the only naval armed force of the new United States, predating the establishment of the Navy by eight years. Marking 236 years for the Coast Guard!
Over the following century, the Revenue Marine grew in both size and responsibility. In 1915, it merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, an organization dedicated to rescuing sailors in distress near the coasts, to form the United States Coast Guard. The new service combined the enforcement and patrol functions of the revenue cutters with the humanitarian rescue mission of the Life-Saving Service, creating the multi-mission organization that exists today.
Throughout the twentieth century, the Coast Guard played key roles in both World Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War, as well as in responding to peacetime disasters and enforcing increasingly complex maritime regulations. The service was transferred from the Department of Transportation to the newly created Department of Homeland Security following the September 11, 2001, attacks, reflecting its growing role in national security.
The United States Coast Guard Birthday is marked on 4 August each year, commemorating the establishment of the service on that date in 1790. The anniversary honors more than two centuries of maritime service, from the enforcement of early tariff laws under President George Washington to the Coast Guard’s modern-day missions in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and national defense.
How to Get Involved