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All the United States Florida Ormond Beach Ormond Beach Watchtower

Ormond Beach Watchtower

A replica of one of the more than 15,000 civilian lookout towers that lined the U.S. coast during World War II.

Ormond Beach, Florida

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Hannah Wagner
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The submarine watchtower in Ormond Beach.   illiam Silver / Alamy
The submarine watchtower in Ormond Beach.   illiam Silver / Alamy
Ormond Beach Watchtower   D. Knight Photography
Ormond Beach Watchtower   D. Knight Photography
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  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
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  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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WWII Watch Tower   Ausoleil / Atlas Obscura User
A Summer Thunderstorm Approaching The Watch Tower   Ausoleil / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Ormond Beach Watchtower was one of roughly 15,200 watchtowers built all along the coast of the United States during the Second World War. The towers were manned by civilian lookouts armed only with binoculars and a telephone, ready to alert the Coast Guard to any incoming threats.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, countless Americans chose to volunteer with the Ground Observation Corps, a defensive force established by the federal government. The Corps built watchtowers lining the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts in order to scan the horizons for signs of another attack.

The effort was not in vain. In January of 1942, German U-boats began to stalk Atlantic waters, sinking American ships and thwarting the U.S. war effort. By that summer, 180 U.S. ships had been attacked by the German submarines. The civilian lookouts often contacted the Coast Guard to rescue the survivors.

After the end of the war, the towers were abandoned, and most have been lost over the years. The original Ormond Beach Watchtower continues to guard the Atlantic coast. The tower was refurbished in 2003. It serves as a monument honoring the civilians who worked to protect the U.S. in times of war. The tower is accessible via the Ormond Scenic Loop - Oceanshore Blvd. 

Related Tags

Towers Military History Submarines World War Ii Visit Florida Military

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Added By

hcw2rp

Edited By

tdg87, bondagarr, Meg, Collector of Experiences...

  • tdg87
  • bondagarr
  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • PushingUpDaisies
  • hmcr0213
  • Ausoleil

Published

May 4, 2018

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Sources
  • https://ormondhistory.org/ww-ii-watchtower-story/
  • https://vintagedaytona.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/ww2-submarine-watch-tower/
  • http://www.ovrealty.com/world-war-ii-watchtower.html
  • http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMMNB0_World_War_II_Submarine_Watch_Tower_Ormond_Beach_Florida_USA
  • http://www.lat34north.com/HistoricMarkersFL/MarkerDetail.cfm?KeyID=58-47&MarkerTitle=World%20War%20II%20Coastal%20Watch%20Tower
Ormond Beach Watchtower
2177 Ocean Shore Blvd
Ormond Beach, Florida
United States
29.346913, -81.065255
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