Maryport Inshore Rescue Team's station is to be open to the public for the next six months.
The station will open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday after the volunteer service received charitable funding to employ a guide for the headquarters.
Mike Messenger, station officer, said it was decided that three members of the existing lifeboat crew would share the job.
He said school and community groups as well as visitors to the area and members of the public would be welcome to visit the new facility.
Maryport Inshore Rescue received funding from Cumbria Community Foundation and Maryport Town Council and other cash had been secured from The Hadfield Trust,Sir John Fisher Foundation and Sellafield to employ a guide and to help set up a training school offering a variety of marine-based activities.
Details about the training are still being finalised.
Mr Messenger said he hoped that these initiatives would put the headquarters on the Maryport tourist map.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here