Touring Wartime History
The 11 buildings at the center of the Long Beach Naval Station, built as a Navy installation during World War II, will be open for tours on Sunday. Scheduled to be paved over and used as a container terminal, this may be the last chance to see the wartime facility, designated as “the Roosevelt Base” in its heyday.
Long Beach Heritage, which is leading the tours, is hoping to promote public awareness of the historic section--and possibly save it from demolition. The area is only 2% of the property, says Mary Kay Nottage, a Long Beach Heritage member.
“President Roosevelt built this as the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet in 1940,” said Nottage. “That’s the part Long Beach Heritage would like to save. Paul Williams [noted architect who also designed LAX’s circular building] designed the buildings.”
Tours, from 1-4 p.m., begin at Building 1 and last about an hour. Visitors should enter Gate 2 on Ocean Boulevard, and have a photo ID ready (the base requires it).
Admission is free. For more information: (310) 493-7019.
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