San Diego is known as the “birthplace of California” and has a rich and varied history. There are many locations from the past that have been either renovated or reclaimed and thankfully still surround us today. Of course there are many official historical sites, like Old Town and Mission San Diego that have been preserved and are open to the public as museums and state parks. Other places of historic interest have been reclaimed and are used differently today than the reasons for which they were originally built. One example is The Headquarters on Harbor Drive. Another example, and the focus of this post, is Naval Training Center (NTC) that is more commonly known today as Liberty Station.

I first learned about NTC in the late 1990s – it had been closed as a Navy Base and was the location for the finish line of the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in 1998. I remember looking around and seeing all of the empty buildings and wondering about the future plans for this space. I could only imagine what this base would have been like in its hey-day of the 1940s – welcoming new recruits, training Navy sailors, and instructing fleet personnel. At its height during World War II, the base covered almost 550 acres. NTC, both before and after its closure, has been the setting for several movies including the classic 1980s film Top Gun.

Fast forward 15 or so years and I now live only a couple of miles from this refurbished and revitalized space. It is amazing the transformation that has taken place. Today, this historic space is home to shopping; restaurants for all taste buds; a variety of businesses; art galleries; hotels; residential housing, schools; nearly 70 acres of parks/open spaces; and miles of walking/running trails. More than 50 of the buildings still here today are restored from the original Naval Training Center (NTC).

Events and entertainment are offered year-round at various venues of Liberty Station. Some are held outdoors (like art walks, 5K/10K races, beer festivals, music festivals, movies under the stars), while others happen indoors (like Friday Night Liberty and gallery exhibits).

Let’s take a look at how NTC looks today:

Wandering around and exploring NTC/Liberty Station is one of my favorite pastimes. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to sip some coffee and read a book, an art exhibit to inspire you, or a fine-dining experience at world-famous restaurants, there is all of this and much, much more at NTC!

If you haven’t had a chance yet to discover this reclaimed space that is uniquely San Diego, I hope you will soon. Friday Night Liberty is a perfect reason to explore Liberty Station. It’s held on the first Friday evening of each month. The next one is on September 4, 2015 and will feature hands-on art making at Pachis, a SCOUT tag sale at Barracks 17, and Ninja Turtle co-creator Kevin Eastman at the San Diego Comic Art Gallery – these are just some of the highlights for September!

Be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this post for more information about upcoming events happening at NTC/Liberty Station.

Have you ever explored Liberty Station in San Diego? What are your favorite parts of this reclaimed space?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More links: Official Liberty Station website. Liberty Station on Facebook.

Friday Night Liberty on Facebook. San Diego Comic Art Gallery.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”