Photo of old, shuttered windows taken through dark, weathered archway.
During my recent ramble around NTC Liberty Station, I did some nosing around. I took a few interesting photos of a lonely portion of the old Naval Training Center San Diego that has yet to be renovated. A row of old, weathered barracks along the North Promenade are vacant and locked shut. But if you listen closely, and use a little imagination, it might be possible to hear the echoing footsteps of naval recruits from decades ago.
The old Naval Training Center in Point Loma is a fascinating place with a significant place in United States history. The idea of training sailors in San Diego was first explored in 1915 by Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt. When the complex was finally built in 1921, it was a modest affair, with several barracks, a mess hall, dispensary, and a few other buildings. It expanded over the years, and during World War II accommodated as many as 25,000 naval recruits. The center remained a vital resource of the United States Navy until 1997, when it was finally closed. Today around 50 original buildings along the beautiful promenade (which also includes the old base’s command center and parade ground) have been restored. Liberty Station has become a popular destination for shopping, recreation and a variety of cultural attractions.
In the following photos, you might note the architecture is mostly based on the Spanish Colonial Revival style, particularly the long arcades. The design of the Naval Training Center was directly influenced by buildings constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Looking along the length of long-abandoned Barracks 5 at NTC Liberty Station.Some old military base signs still can be seen at the historic Naval Training Center San Diego.Buildings 18 and 25 remain empty. Most structures in the complex are renovated and have commercial or nonprofit tenants.Simple geometry of functional architecture influenced by the Spanish Colonial Revival style.Peeling yellow paint on buildings where new United States Navy recruits used to train.There’s something strangely picturesque in this image of lonely decay.With a bit of imagination, one can picture newly recruited sailors moving and marching through the Naval Training Center years ago.This boldly painted blue door really catches the eye!Walking around NTC Liberty Station is like taking a small voyage back into history.
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A happy sun shines above beach and ocean on this unique bench, where anyone might sit and relax.
Liberty Station is a wonderful place to spend the day in Point Loma. Its beautiful promenade contains many small museums, art studios and cultural attractions. When you walk around the grounds of this brilliantly converted Naval Training Center, you’ll notice a number of artistic benches placed around the old barracks, military buildings and plazas. I recently took photos of many benches. Just for fun!
Photo of creative guy working near The Hot Spot walk-in arts and crafts studio at Barracks 14.One of several colorful benches inside Building 202, home to small museums and galleries.This wildly creative work of art is just too much fun!An outdoor bench welcomes visitors to history-rich San Diego attraction NTC Liberty Station.Looks to me like we’re supposed to sit here!Shops and restaurants around Liberty Station provide many treats. So does this seat!Cool scene of breaching whales decorates this bench found on the North Promenade. The artist is David Mandel.Another fun whale bench awaits people at Liberty Station with tired feet. Colorful ocean art by David Mandel.Check out this Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City bench, straight from The Wizard of Oz!Smiling, active people, playful dogs and a whole lot of heart!If music be the food of love, play on!
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The New Americans Museum at NTC Liberty Station opens an important exhibit titled Becoming All-American: Diversity, Inclusion, and Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball.
Today I experienced something undeniably cool. The New Americans Museum, located at NTC Liberty Station, held Becoming All-American Family Day. The fun event celebrated the opening of the museum’s new exhibit, Becoming All-American: Diversity, Inclusion & Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball.
In keeping with the small museum’s American immigration and diversity theme, this inspiring exhibit showcases Major League Baseball players who broke through racial barriers during the long history of the quintessentially American sport.
If you live in San Diego and you’re a fan of history or baseball, make sure to check it out! You might also visit the many other interesting museums nearby! Liberty Station, the redeveloped site of the old Naval Training Center, is brimming with flowers, sunshine, fountains, shops, culture and history.
Becoming All-American: Diversity, Inclusion, and Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball runs April 24 to July 5.
The New Americans Museum is located at the beautifully redeveloped old Naval Training Center in Point Loma.Becoming All-American Family Day was held to celebrate a fascinating new exhibit.Cool displays in a unique immigrant-themed museum showcase diverse players through the history of professional American baseball.Colorful painting of Gene Locklear, Native American of Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He played for several teams, including the San Diego Padres.A quote from Gene Locklear. “Education, that’s the only way it’s going to change…”Black, white…and shades of gray. In American society, Jews, Irish, Latinos and Asians were sometimes considered white…and sometimes not.Museum display honors the legacy of Roberto Clemente with his quote. “My greatest satisfaction comes from helping to erase the old opinion about Latin Americans and Blacks.”Timeline on wall shows notable baseball players through history, eventually shattering racial stereotypes and barriers.Harry Kingman in 1914, the only Major League player to have been born in China.Putting on a baseball uniform was like wearing the American flag. Japanese baseball player and manager Kenichi Zenimura, placed in internment camp during WWII, organized a league.Museum visitor reads display about Ted Williams, American baseball legend who grew up in San Diego. He had Welsh, Irish, Mexican, Basque, Russian and Native American roots!Padres baseball mascot the Swinging Friar plays with kids at the batting inflatable outside during the museum’s family event.The wisdom of courageous hero Jackie Robinson. “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
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People on patio behind Visitor Center take in a breathtaking panorama.View from Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center scenic overlook. Downtown San Diego is visible to the east.
Last Sunday, after I checked out the new Yankee Baleeiros whaling exhibit in the Visitor Center, I wandered about Cabrillo National Monument and took in the many beautiful views. My camera was very busy!
Tall ship America sails south down the channel out of the bay and into the open ocean.Looking out over San Diego Bay. Shelter Island lies in the distance beyond Naval Base Point Loma.One of many interesting signs. This one shows typical commercial and pleasure craft seen on the water below.Statue of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at a popular lookout spot.Naval Air Station North Island seems to glow beyond the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center building.I took lots of photographs while climbing up through native coastal vegetation toward the beautiful Old Point Loma Lighthouse.Looking southwest over two World War II bunkers toward the distant Coronado Islands, which are a part of Tijuana, Mexico. The new lighthouse is down by the water.People gaze out at the beautiful sky and ocean from a popular whale-watching point.Gray whales migrate past Cabrillo National Monument from December through April. Spouts are often seen from here!Sculpture of a gray whale and a cetacean’s vertebrae along walkway that leads from the old lighthouse.Looking northwest toward the tidepools below and Pacific Ocean breakers.
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Looking up at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in Cabrillo National Monument.
Everyone likes to explore the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. You can climb up the winding staircase and peer into several interesting rooms where the lighthouse keeper and his family lived. But the small museum in the nearby assistant keeper’s quarters contains the true marvels of science and art. Come inside and let us have a quick look!
The assistant keeper’s quarters next to the lighthouse today contains a small museum.Sign outside lighthouse shows huge Fresnel lens which guided ships with focused light 400 feet above sea level.Sign at entrance to museum. The heart of a lighthouse is the lens and lamp. 19th century lenses are works of art made of polished brass and glass.
The highly polished Fresnel lenses utilized by lighthouses are beautiful objects. They refract and reflect light, creating prismatic colors when viewed from certain angles. It’s almost a miracle that a small flame in a lamp can be magnified to the extent that ships far out at sea can easily see it and be guided to safety. Light intensified by lenses in this museum could be seen 18 to 24 miles away!
This 3rd Order Fresnel lens was used by the New Point Loma Lighthouse, built in 1891 down by the water.An optical wonder, this huge lens is an amazing, highly polished light bender.Diagram shows how a complex Fresnel lens functions.The base of the heavy Fresnel lens with chariot wheels visible.There are different orders of size, as illustrated in this display.Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) was an accomplished engineer and scientist. Fresnel lenses are used in many modern applications today.Small museum by Old Point Loma Lighthouse contains various very cool exhibits.This small 5th Order lens lighted the Ballast Point Lighthouse from 1890 to 1960.Log book of daily expenditures for oil, wicks and chimneys.This clockwork of gears slowly turned the light above.The keeper’s service box contained cleaning supplies and delicate tools for maintaining the lamp.The Coast Guard removed this large Fresnel lens from the New Point Loma Lighthouse in 2002.Looking at the iconic Old Point Loma Lighthouse and small museum beside it.
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Looking out the rear of the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center on a beautiful day.
I saw on the morning news that an important exhibit was opening today in the Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center. I haven’t been up that way since I blogged about the park’s centennial, so I figured I’d go check things out!
The traveling exhibition is called Yankee Baleeiros! The Shared Legacies of Luso and Yankee Whalers. That’s quite a long title, but it’s fitting for the epic displays that occupy about half of the sizable visitor center. Developed by the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the exhibit “celebrates the interwoven Luso-American stories of the Azorean, Cape Verdean, and Brazilian communities in the United States from early immigration in the 18th century through the latter half of the 20th century.” Sounds like a long and tedious thesis! But it’s actually fascinating! Basically, it shows the rich history of Portuguese speaking whalers in the Northeast, primarily New Bedford, and how they interacted with Yankee whalers.
As San Diego is one of the world’s best places to encounter a large variety of whale species, and as this is the season for migrating gray whales, the exhibit is more than appropriate. The displays also address how whaling techniques evolved over the years, the success of modern conservation efforts, and how whale-watching is now a much larger industy than whaling.
After listening to a short opening presentation by Park Superintendent Tom Workman and Christina Connett, PhD, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, I headed out to Cabrillo’s excellent Pacific Ocean viewing areas to scan the horizon for spouts. I didn’t see any, but there were a bunch of boats off Point Loma whale-watching on this sunny Sunday afternoon. I got more pics from my visit coming, so stay tuned!
If you haven’t been to Cabrillo National Monument in a while (or ever), head on over! The special exhibit will be on display through April 12, 2015.
Park Superintendent Tom Workman talks while Christina Connett of the New Bedford Whaling Museum listens.People listen to presentation at opening of Yankee Baleeiros whaling exhibit.Displays recount the history of Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) whalers in America.New Bedford was the major port for whalers in the Northeast.Inside the visitor center is a section of the 1848 Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Purrington.
Portions of the 1848 Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Purrington were on display inside and outside the visitor center. The complete work is 1,275 feet long and eight and a half feet tall! It’s believed to be the longest painting in the world! The piece went on a national tour shortly after completion, and appeared at the 1964 New York World’s Fair! Cool!
The fantastic displays are museum quality and extremely informative.Photos of sailors rowing out to hunt whales, and a harpooner at the ready.A dead whale is hauled to the ship’s side and stripped of blubber by many hands.People point out spots on a map of historical whaling grounds.The opening presentation is over and folks head out to take in the many sights around Cabrillo.Is there a whale out there? Probably not. This back door faces San Diego Bay!
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January sunrise tints smooth water of San Diego Bay.
I feel so fortunate to live where I do. Early this morning I walked from Cortez Hill down to the water just to see, feel and breathe in the sunrise.
Morning light reflected jewel-like from many Point Loma windows across San Diego Bay.Sun is about to rise beyond the sleepy USS Midway. Photo taken from the Broadway Pier.Newborn daylight reflects from silvery skyscraper beyond domes of the Santa Fe Depot.As the sun lifts into the sky, birds take flight above palm trees in downtown San Diego.
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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered San Diego Bay for Spain in 1542.
San Diego’s 51st Annual Cabrillo Festival was held today. Taking place at Ballast Point near the south end of Naval Base Point Loma, the event allowed the public to view a reenactment of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s entrance into San Diego Bay in 1542. Cabrillo, born in Portugal, commanded his voyage of discovery on behalf of Spain, sailing the galleon San Salvador up the west coast of America.
In addition to the colorful reenactment, the festival included a short ceremony, speeches, costumes, National Park exhibits, food and dance provided by various cultural groups, and just a lot of interesting local history. I took some photographs. Here they are!
Visitors to the 51st Annual Cabrillo Festival await reenactment of historic event.People gather above the small beach at Ballast Point on Naval Base Point Loma.As people await a rowboat full of reenactors, event commentary is provided.
A short walk out to a point beside the bay provided a view of the San Diego Maritime Museum’s tall ship Californian, which portrayed Cabrillo’s galleon San Salvador.
Tall ship Californian, in the distance, serves during event as Cabrillo’s galleon San Salvador.
I took pictures of two signs by the above fenced archeological site…
Sign at Ballast Point tells about archeological site of old Spanish whaling station.Stones and tiles are remains of an old tryworks oven where whale oil was boiled.
I headed back to the gathered crowd to await the main event…
Here comes the rowboat containing explorer Cabrillo, a priest and crew members.People watching this recreation of history are snapping photos like crazy.Cabrillo leaps from the galleon’s small boat onto the shore!Cabrillo in armor raises his sword, while priest with cross stands behind him.Cabrillo now plants a Spanish Cross of Burgundy flag on soil of New World.A proclamation is read on behalf of Spain by Portuguese explorer Cabrillo.Actors depart the narrow beach and head up to join the onlookers.Kids pose with a modern day version of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.Many folks in costume were in the big crowd!Navy honor guard prepares for anthems of four nations and a moment of silence.Making an adjustment to costume from the Old World centuries ago.Anthems were played for Spain, Portugal, Mexico and the United States.
In addition to the four national anthems, a moment of silence honored the Native American Kumeyaay, who lived in this area long before Europeans arrived. Cabrillo spent a few days anchored in today’s San Diego Bay, a place he originally named San Miguel. He took on fresh water and traded with the native Kumeyaay people that he met.
People watch with interest during the short ceremony that included several speeches.Several beauty queens appear on stage and smile for everyone.Exhibits included various parts of Spanish conquistador armor.Small boy tries on a surprisingly heavy steel helmet.Chainmail was being twisted with an apparatus at the end of this table.Biscuits, nuts and an astrolabe are typical items carried on a Spanish galleon.Scouts demonstrate rope making with an interesting machine.Friendly lady was making woolen caps to be worn under those heavy steel helmets!
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52 U.S. Navy submarines were lost at sea during World War II. 3,505 submariners lost their lives.
At NTC Liberty Station, the 52 Boats Memorial remembers the sacrifice of these men.
The unique memorial runs along two beautiful walkways, and consists of 52 American Liberty Elm trees, 52 flags and 52 black granite markers. The history of each submarine and the names of lost crew members are recounted for future generations to remember.
USS Grayling (SS-209) sunk in World War II is on eternal patrol.American flag shelters one of the solemn black marble markers.USS Pompano (SS-181) and crew remain on eternal patrol.Beautiful bird of paradise flowers along pathway through 52 Boats Memorial.USS Runner (SS-275) remembered over half a century later.Submariners who lost their lives in World War II in incidents that did not involve the loss of a boat.A new plaque respectfully recounts those Boats and Men Lost at Times Other Than WWII. A faded, identical plaque used to stand here.Someone honors submariner heroes by leaving flowers beside a black granite marker that remembers the USS Pickerel (SS-177).
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Hundreds of colorful tiles encircle a large playground at Liberty Station. Each tile was carefully painted by a child. This one contains a special message.
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