Gilbert's Bar - House of Refuge

Gilbert's Bar was named after pirate Don Pedro Gilbert who used to prowl the area waters. The House of Refuge was part of a system of exact replica houses along the warmer waters of the US east coast. They were built for survivors of ship wrecks in areas that had no local villages/townships/etc. The idea came from wreck survivors who needed a place to go once reaching the shore line. Hypothermia would kill many people, but those who made it to shore would walk the beach in either direction. Eventually they would pass a sign that was supposed to look like an outstretched arm pointing in the direction to the closest House of Refuge. On them would be painted the distance to the House, but if you couldn't read, you could just follow the pointing finger.  Like the Lighthouse system, a Keeper and his family were appointed to live in the house on the first floor. The entire second floor was an open room lined with cots for survivors to await for a passing ship to rescue them.  Each House was equipped and supplied with provisions, also just like the Lighthouse Service.  In 1915 they were taken over by the US Coast Guard and the Keeper's title was replaced with "Surfman."  This particular House is the only remaining one and today serves as a museum.