Liberty Station, San Diego facts for kids
Liberty Station is a cool place in San Diego, California. It used to be a big training center for the U.S. Navy. Now, it's a lively area with lots of different things to do. You can find shops, restaurants, schools, homes, hotels, and even parks here.
Liberty Station is right by the water, near a boat channel off San Diego Bay. It's also close to the San Diego Airport. The whole area is about 361 acres, which is like 270 football fields! Many of the old Navy buildings are still here. They are now used for new purposes like stores, offices, and schools. These buildings are special because they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning they are important historical sites.
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History of Liberty Station
The story of Liberty Station began when the Navy decided to close its training center in San Diego. This happened in 1993. The city of San Diego then formed a group to decide what to do with the large area. They came up with a detailed plan. A company called The Corky McMillin Company was chosen to develop the site. The Navy base officially closed on March 21, 1997.
In 2012, a big part of the renovation was finished. This meant 15 more old buildings were ready for new uses. A non-profit group called the NTC Foundation helps manage the historic and non-profit areas. The director, Alan Ziter, said it's the biggest historical project in San Diego. It's also the city's largest arts and culture project.
In 2014, the NTC Command Center building was named after Richard "Dick" Laub. He was a realtor and Navy veteran from Point Loma. His wife gave $1.5 million to the NTC Foundation, which helped make this possible.
Shops and Restaurants
The shopping and dining area at Liberty Station has five main parts. These include The Marketplace, Ocean Village, NTC Landing, Harbor Square, and Fitness Club. The Marketplace is the busiest part with many shops and places to eat.
You can find popular stores like Vons, Trader Joe's, and Ace Hardware here. There are also many restaurants, including several Starbucks coffee shops. In 2013, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens opened. It's a huge place, about 23,500 square feet, and can seat 700 people! It's the biggest business at Liberty Station. In 2016, a movie theater called The Lot opened. It has six screens and is in the old Luce Auditorium.
Some of the shops and restaurants, like Vons and Stone Brewing, are inside the original Navy buildings. Because of this, they have unique layouts. For example, the Vons store is in two separate buildings that used to be barracks. Stone Brewing uses several buildings, including the old mess hall.
The NTC Landing area is home to the historic Sail Ho Golf Course. It was built in the 1920s by Albert Spalding, who started Spalding Sports. This is the oldest golf course in San Diego. It was once called the Loma Club and was used by the Navy for training. The NTC Foundation has recently updated the golf course. Famous golfers like Craig Stadler and Phil Mickelson played junior tournaments here. The course has nine holes, a pro-shop, and the Sail Ho Bar & Grill.
Arts and Culture Promenade
The NTC Promenade is a collection of historic buildings. They are being updated to showcase arts, science, culture, and technology. This area is home to theater groups, dance companies, museums, art galleries, and various classes.
There are also places for public and private events. These include the old chapel and the former mess hall from the Navy days. The base's old command center and parade ground are also part of the Promenade. The command center building has displays about the history of the Navy training center and Point Loma. It also has a rose garden planted by the wife of an early base commander. This 28-acre area is managed by the non-profit NTC Foundation.
The word "promenade" also describes a beautiful walking path. This path runs along the entire length of Liberty Station.
Schools and Learning
The educational district at Liberty Station is home to High Tech High. This is a group of public charter schools. There are five high schools, two middle schools, and two elementary schools on this campus. These schools are part of the San Diego City Schools. High school students can walk to the shops and restaurants during their lunch break.
Homes and Living
Liberty Station has two main areas for homes. One part is for military families, and the other is a community for civilians. The military housing is still owned by the U.S. Government. It has about 500 homes, mostly townhomes, with playgrounds and sports areas for kids. The homes look like traditional San Diego buildings with a Spanish style.
The civilian community has townhomes, row homes, and single-family houses. People of all ages live here, from young families to retired couples.
Hotels and the USS Recruit
The hotel district at Liberty Station has several hotels, like Homewood Suites by Hilton and Courtyard by Marriott. There are also plans for a large Nickelodeon resort hotel.
This area also features a unique historic structure called the USS Recruit (TDE-1). This is a two-thirds scale model of a Navy ship built right into the ground! It was used to teach Navy recruits how to work on a ship. People used to call it the USS Neversail because it couldn't actually sail. It's currently empty, but there are plans to turn it into a museum in the future. You can see it from North Harbor Drive.
Office Buildings
The office district has new office buildings. Their design looks like the old Navy buildings, following the Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Rock Church
Rock Church is a very large Christian church that opened in 2007. It was built on the site of the former Technical Training Center. The building has new Christian education rooms, offices, and a huge worship area that can seat 3,500 people. This makes it one of the largest auditoriums in Southern California. The church has about 12,000 people attending each week, making it the biggest church in San Diego. Next to the church is the Rock Academy, a private Christian school for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.
52 Boats Memorial
In 1995, a group of United States Submarine Veterans of World War II from San Diego decided to create a memorial. They wanted to honor the 52 U.S. Navy submarines and 3,505 submariners who were lost during World War II. After 14 years of raising money and dealing with lots of paperwork, the memorial was finally dedicated at Liberty Station.
The memorial honors the 52 submarines that were lost in World War II. It has 52 elm trees, 52 flags, and 52 granite memorials. Each memorial is dedicated to one of the lost ships and the brave men who served on them. The project was led by Doug Smay, whose father served in submarines during World War II. The memorial has two long sidewalks with the trees, flags, and plaques on either side. Most of the money for the project came from private donations.
Parks and Open Spaces
The park and open space area includes the golf course. It also has a 46-acre waterfront park with playgrounds. There's a walking and jogging trail along the boat channel. You can also find several fitness and therapy centers here.
Liberty Station's large open areas make it a popular spot for 5k walk/runs. These events are often sponsored by local businesses and non-profit groups. You can also rent kayaks and paddle boards during certain seasons.
Some of the fitness places include Point Loma Sports Club, Yoga Six, and San Diego Gymnastics. An aquatic center, which is a swimming facility, is also planned for the NTC Park area. The City of San Diego is working on approving the plans for this new center.
Images for kids
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Dick Laub NTC Command Center
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Liberty Station in December 2020
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Public market at Liberty Station
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A view of the Promenade in December 2020
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USS Recruit (TDE-1) in the Hotel District of Liberty Station.
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The WWII Submarine Veterans Memorial in December 2015
