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United States Coast and Geodetic Survey

The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (abbreviated USC&GS; known as the Survey of the Coast from 1807 to 1836; as the United States Coast Survey from 1836 until 1878) was the first scientific agency of the United States Government. It existed from 1807 to 1970, and throughout its history was responsible for mapping and charting the coast of the United States, and later the coasts of U.S. territories. In 1871, it gained the additional responsibility of surveying the interior of the United States and geodesy became a more important part of its work, leading to it being renamed the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1878.

"Survey of the Coast" and "United States Coast Survey" redirect here. Not to be confused with United States Coast Guard, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, U.S. National Geodetic Survey, or United States Geological Survey.

Agency overview

February 10, 1807 (1807-02-10)

  • none

October 3, 1970 (1970-10-03)

United States federal government

Long the U.S. Government's only scientific agency, the Survey accumulated other scientific and technical responsibilities as well, including astronomy, cartography, metrology, meteorology, geology, geophysics, hydrography, navigation, oceanography, exploration, pilotage, tides, and topography. It also was responsible for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the United States from 1836 to 1901. In 1959, it was assigned the responsibility for U.S. Government oceanographic studies worldwide.


By the mid-19th century, the Coast and Geodetic Survey operated a fleet of survey ships that constituted a distinct seagoing service of the United States until 1970. The Survey supported U.S. military operations in wartime, and in 1917 the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps was created as a new uniformed service of the United States to carry out both wartime and peacetime surveying and related operations.


In 1970, the Coast and Geodetic Survey was abolished when it merged with other government agencies to create the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but its elements were reorganized and incorporated into NOAA as the National Ocean Survey, later renamed the National Ocean Service. In addition to the National Ocean Service, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey, Office of Coast Survey, and NOAA fleet all trace their ancestry in whole or in part to the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the descendant of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps. In addition, the modern National Institute of Standards and Technology, although long separated from the Coast and Geodetic Survey, traces its ancestry to the Coast and Geodetic Survey's Office of Weights and Measures.

Coast and Geodetic Survey leadership[edit]

Superintendents (1816–1919)[edit]

Source[52]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Distinguished Service Medal
Awarded to any Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officer or to any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who distinguished himself by outstanding conduct or service in the line of duty between 8 September 1939 and 28 April 1952.[64]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded to any Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officer or to any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who rendered service of a meritorious character between 8 September 1939 and 28 April 1952 but not of such an outstanding character as would warrant an award of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Distinguished Service Medal.[65]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Good Conduct Medal
Awarded to enlisted members of the crews of Coast and Geodetic Survey vessels for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity during service between 8 September 1939 and 28 April 1952.[66]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Defense Service Medal
Awarded to any Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officer or to any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who served at any time during the period between 8 September 1939 and 6 December 1941.[67]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Atlantic War Zone Medal
Awarded to any Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officer or to any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who served outside the continental limits of the United States in the Atlantic War Zone between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.[68]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Pacific War Zone Medal
Awarded to any Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officer or to any ship's officer or member of the crew of any Coast and Geodetic Survey ship who served outside the continental limits of the United States in the Pacific War Zone between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.[69]

Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps officers, as well as other Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel such as civilian ship's officers and crew members, were eligible for United States Department of Commerce awards as well as the awards and decorations of other uniformed services with which they served. However, although the Coast and Geodetic Survey traced its history to 1807, it had no awards of its own until 21 July 1945, when President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9590, authorizing six awards in recognition of Coast and Geodetic Survey service during World War II, the national emergency preceding it, or its aftermath.[57][58][59][60][61][62]


For budgetary reasons, Executive Order 9590 established the awards as ribbons only, but it also authorized the United States Secretary of Commerce to "provide and issue an appropriate medal, with suitable appurtenances, to the recipient of any ribbon at such time as he may determine, and when necessary funds are available therefore."[57][60][63] However, it was not until after the United States Congress passed the Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act in 1988 that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as the Coast and Geodetic Survey's successor organization, took action to create a medal for each of the awards. Later in 1988, via NOAA Corps Bulletin 880401, NOAA authorized medals to supplement the ribbons previously awarded.[60][63]


A member of the Coast and Geodetic Survey was eligible to receive each ribbon only once during his career, although he was authorized to wear a ribbon device indicating each additional deed or service justifying a similar award.[57] Except for the Coast and Geodetic Survey Good Conduct Medal, the awards were authorized only for service under the jurisdiction of the United States Secretary of Commerce; Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel were not eligible for these awards for their service during periods that they were under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of War or United States Department of the Navy.[57]

(in service c. 1871–1900)

USC&GS A. D. Bache (1871)

(in service 1901–1917; 1919–1927)

USC&GS A. D. Bache (1901)

(in service 1852–1861)

USCS Active

(in service 1854–1881)

USC&GS Arago (1854)

(in service 1871–1890)

USC&GS Arago (1871)

(in service 1856–1858)

USCS Arctic

(in service 1919–1927)

USC&GS Audwin

(in service 1851–1858)

USCS Baltimore

(in service 1846–1862)

USCS Bancroft

(in service 1867–1885)

USC&GS Barataria

(in service 1875–1880)

USC&GS Baton Rouge

(in service 1848–1857)

USCS Belle

(in service 1855–1868)

USCS Benjamin Peirce

(in service 1854–1874)

USCS Bowditch

(in service 1946–1967)

USC&GS Bowie (CSS 27)

(in service 1884–1918)

USC&GS Carlile P. Patterson

(in service 1887–1927)

USC&GS Cosmos

(in service 1919–1934)

USC&GS Dailhache

(in service 1933–1935)

USC&GS Davidson (1925)

(in service 1967–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1989)

USC&GS Davidson (CSS 31)

(in service 1922–1941)

USC&GS Discoverer (1918)

(in service 1967–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1996)

USC&GS Discoverer (OSS 02)

(in service 1876–1893)

USC&GS Drift

(in service c. 1870s–1903)

USC&GS Eagre

(in service 1919–1944)

USC&GS Elsie III

(in service 1904–1918; 1919–1939)

USC&GS Explorer (1904)

(in service 1940–1968)

USC&GS Explorer (OSS 28)

(in service 1968–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1989 and 2004–present)

USC&GS Fairweather (MSS 20)

(in service 1871–1881)

USC&GS Fathomer (1871)

(in service 1905–1942)

USC&GS Fathomer (1904)

(in service 1968–1970, then with NOAA 1970–2002)

USC&GS Ferrel (ASV 92)

(in service 1840–1848 and from 1849)

USRC Gallatin (1830)

(in service 1874–1905; famous as pioneer ship in deep-ocean survey and oceanography)

USC&GS George S. Blake

(in service 1930–1962)

USC&GS Gilbert

(in service 1923–1941)

USC&GS Guide (1918)

(in service 1941–1942)

USC&GS Guide (1929)

(in service 1871–1895)

Hassler

(in service 1967–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1995)

USC&GS Heck (ASV 91)

(in service 1919–1939)

USC&GS Helianthus

(in service 1942–1967)

USC&GS Hilgard (ASV 82)

(in service 1946–1967)

USC&GS Hodgson (CSS 26)

(in service 1901–1917; 1919–1928)

USC&GS Hydrographer (1901)

(in service 1915–1917; 1919–1920)

USC&GS Isis

(in service 1940–1967)

USC&GS Lester Jones (ASV-79)

(in service 1919–1947)

USC&GS Lydonia (CS 302)

(in service 1850–1858)

USCS Madison

(in service 1919–1944)

USC&GS Marindin

(in service 1905–1932)

USC&GS Marinduque

(in service 1957–1968)

USC&GS Marmer

(in service 1885–1919)

USC&GS Matchless

(in service 1876–1915)

USC&GS McArthur (1874)

(in service 1966–1970, then with NOAA 1970–2003)

USC&GS McArthur (MSS 22)

(in service 1851–1872)

USCS Meredith

(in service 1920–1939)

USC&GS Mikawe

(in service 1919–1944)

USC&GS Mitchell

(in service 1849–1855)

USCS Morris

(in service 1968–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1995)

USC&GS Mount Mitchell (MSS 22)

(in service 1919–1935)

USC&GS Natoma

(in service 1930–1942)

USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS 26)

(in service 1966–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1996)

USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS 01)

(in service 1919–1944)

USC&GS Ogden

(in service 1919–1920)

USC&GS Onward

(in service 1899–1942, renamed USC&GS Researcher 1941)

USC&GS Pathfinder (1898)

(in service 1946–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1971)

USC&GS Pathfinder (OSS 30)

(in service 1941–1967)

USC&GS Patton (ASV-80)

(in service 1963–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1992)

USC&GS Peirce (CSS 28)

(in service 1845–1857)

USCS Phoenix

(in service 1922–1941)

USC&GS Pioneer (1918)

(in service 1941–1942)

USC&GS Pioneer (1929)

(in service 1946–1966)

USC&GS Pioneer (OSS 31)

(in service 1919–1930 or 1931)

USC&GS Ranger

(in service 1901–1918)

USC&GS Research (1901)

(in service 1970, then with NOAA 1970–1996)

USC&GS Researcher (OSS 03)

(in service 1848–1860)

USCS Robert J. Walker

(in service 1905–1921)

USC&GS Romblon

(acquired 1919)

USC&GS Scandinavia

(in service 1871–1888)

USC&GS Silliman

(in service 1917 and 1919–1956)

USC&GS Surveyor (1917)

(in service 1960–1970, then with NOAA 1970–1995 or 1996)

USC&GS Surveyor (OSS 32)

(in service 1898–1917)

USC&GS Taku

(in service 1847–1850)

USRC Taney (1833)

(in service 1875–1915)

USC&GS Thomas R. Gedney

(in service 1842–1855)

USCS Vanderbilt

(in service 1854–1875)

USCS Varina

)(in service 1860s)

USS Vixen (1861)

(in service 1942–1967)

USC&GS Wainwright (ASV 83)

(in service 1929–1946)

USC&GS Westdahl

(in service 1963–1970, then with NOAA 1970–2003)

USC&GS Whiting (CSS 29)

(in service 1919–1941)

USC&GS Wildcat (1919)

(in service 1873–1894)

USC&GS Yukon (1873)

(in service 1898–1923)

USC&GS Yukon (1898)

Awards and decorations of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey

Height Modernization

Herbert Grove Dorsey

Hydrographic survey#United States

Hydrography

International maritime signal flags

Lists of flags

Radio acoustic ranging

Nautical chart

Naval Oceanographic Office

Seconds pendulum

Surveying

Topography

United States Hydrographic Office

US Coast and Geodetic Survey Seismological and Geomagnetic House

Barbrow, Louis E.; Judson, Lewis V. (1976) [1963]. (PDF). NBS Special Publication 447. Washington D.C.: US Department of Commerce - Superintendent of Document.

Weights and measures standards of the United States: A brief history

Mendenhall, T.C. (October 6, 1922). . Science. New Series. 56 (1449): 337–380. Bibcode:1922Sci....56..377M. doi:10.1126/science.56.1449.377. ISSN 0036-8075. JSTOR 1647062. PMID 17833047. Retrieved May 8, 2021.

"The United States Fundamental Standards of Length and Mass"

Early history of the Coast Survey

NOAA Office of Coast Survey

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Annual Reports, years 1837–1965

at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website

United States Coast & Geodetic Survey

Explanation of survey monuments

1858 map: hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

Preliminary chart of entrance to Brazos River

1853 map: hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

Preliminary chart of San Luis Pass, Texas

1854 map: hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

Preliminary survey of the entrance to the Rio Grande, Texas

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