Naval Reserve Center Santa Barbara facts for kids
The Naval Reserve Center building in Santa Barbara, California is a special place with a long history. Today, it is home to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, along with other offices and a restaurant.
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Early Days and World War I
Back in 1897, a group of people in Santa Barbara, California started the Sixth Division of the California Naval Militia. Their job was to help protect the coast. They practiced drills, learned how to tie knots, and improved their shooting skills on visiting US Navy ships. This group grew, and by World War I, it had 123 enlisted members and four officers ready to serve.
Serving in World War II
In November 1941, the Sixth Division was called to active duty for World War II. They served on a troop transport ship called the USS Mount Vernon. This ship traveled all over the world, going to places like New Zealand and Singapore. They completed more than a dozen trips before the war ended.
The building we now know as the Naval Reserve Center is located at 113 Harbor Way in Santa Barbara. It was first called the Naval Reserve Armory. The Works Project Administration (WPA), a government program, built it for the Navy. In 1939, the City of Santa Barbara gave the land to the Navy for just $1.00. City leaders believed that having a Naval Reserve Armory would be very good for Santa Barbara.
Local Reservists had already helped their community in many ways. They assisted after a terrible earthquake in 1925. They also helped with neighborhood improvements and other community activities.
Community Use and Support
City leaders also thought the building itself would be useful for the community. It had a large assembly hall and classrooms. They were right! In 1958, the commanding officer reported that the Center could help in a disaster. It had a backup generator to provide power if needed. It also had a medical area and space for cots for disaster victims.
Over the years, many groups used the Naval Reserve Center. These included Santa Barbara City College, UC Santa Barbara, and youth groups. It even hosted a big scientific conference. In 1982, Santa Barbara's first maritime museum, the Santa Barbara Naval and Maritime Museum, started here. It was founded by Lieutenant Commander Douglas Stouffer, who was in charge of the Naval Reserve Center at the time.
World War II and Training
When the US entered World War II, the Armory building was almost finished. But construction stopped, and the building was boarded up without windows or plumbing. In 1942, the City of Santa Barbara leased more land to the government. This was for building a Navy wharf and a special range offshore.
The next year, Naval Reservists were ordered to get the Armory ready. It became the Small Craft Training Center, Santa Barbara. It was used for a minesweeping school. Photos from that time show destroyers and sub-chasers tied up at Navy Pier. (The Navy Pier was later given to the City of Santa Barbara in 1959.)
Members of the Sixth Division moved from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse basement to the Naval Armory. They were called to duty again during the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Post-War Changes and Decommissioning
In 1945, the Small Craft Training Center closed. The building was then called the United States Naval Reserve Armory, Santa Barbara. By 1948, the main focus shifted from armory activities to training reservists. So, the facility was renamed the Naval Reserve Training Center. For many years, local Naval Reservists, both men and women (after 1957), trained and served there. Their service helped both their communities and their country.
In the mid-1990s, the Navy sold the Reserve Center to the City of Santa Barbara for $2.4 million. A big celebration was held on December 2, 1994, with a World War II theme. Actress Jane Russell, who lived nearby, was one of the 500 guests. In January 1995, the Navy officially ended its time at the Naval Reserve Center with a special ceremony. The command moved to a new facility at the Seabee base in Port Hueneme. This base, along with the Navy base at Point Mugu, is now known as Naval Base Ventura County.
Today, the old Naval Reserve Center building is home to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, a restaurant, and offices.
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum teaches visitors about the history of the Santa Barbara Channel. It explores how people discovered and explored this area and its connection to the sea.
The museum has many interesting exhibits. You can see artifacts from local lighthouses, including the huge Point Conception Lighthouse Fresnel lens. There are displays about the area's fishing and diving industries, and the sport of surfing. You can also learn about the Honda Point disaster in WW II, marine safety groups, and ranching on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands. The museum also features stories and items from shipwrecks.
