Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Life Saving Station episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 30, 2026 · 17 MIN

Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Life Saving Station

from The Atlas Obscura Podcast · host SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Pea Island is a wildlife refuge, and one of the most untouched parts of the Outer Banks. But a century ago, this small piece of land was the site of one of the most remarkable water rescues to date. And it was thanks to a man who, just 30 years after Reconstruction, became the first Black person to lead a Life Saving Station.    There are many ways to learn more about Richard Ethridge and the Pea Island Life Saving team, including the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. You can also check out David Wright and Dave Zoby’s book,  Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers.  This episode was produced in production with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pea Island is a wildlife refuge, and one of the most untouched parts of the Outer Banks. But a century ago, this small piece of land was the site of one of the most remarkable water rescues to date. And it was thanks to a man who, just 30 years after Reconstruction, became the first Black person to lead a Life Saving Station. There are many ways to learn more about Richard Ethridge and the Pea Island Life Saving team, including the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. You can also check out David Wright and Dave Zoby’s book, Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers. This episode was produced in production with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

NOW PLAYING

Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Life Saving Station

0:00 17:01

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast?

This episode is 17 minutes long.

When was this The Atlas Obscura Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on June 30, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Pea Island is a wildlife refuge, and one of the most untouched parts of the Outer Banks. But a century ago, this small piece of land was the site of one of the most remarkable water rescues to date. And it was thanks to a man who, just 30 years...

Can I download this The Atlas Obscura Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!