Waypoints: A Digital Archive of U.S. Coast Guard History

A Journey Through History

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition) defines "waypoint" as "a point between major points on a route, as along a track." Nautical references describe a waypoint as a specific location in a journey. Waypoints are a point of reference - marking where you came from and where you plan to go. If you look at a series of waypoints, you can examine your earlier travels - remembering the experiences that brought you to where you are today.

The "Waypoints" digital archive project began as an idea for expanding the accessibility of the U.S. Coast Guard's collection of historical artifacts. Through our efforts, people wishing to explore the U.S. Coast Guard's history will be able to access a remarkable collection of materials maintained by the Coast Guard historian's office.

Our project development effort is documented in the sections available to the left. If you have comments, questions, or constructive feedback, please let us know by sending e-mail to The Waypoints Development Team.