While many Americans celebrate Memorial Day with a cookout and a long weekend, the true importance of this holiday is in honoring our nation’s history and the sacrifices of the men and women in the military.

With its deep roots in military service and rich history, San Diego offers locals and visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in history through its historic landmarks.

Before the Liberty Station we know today

Today, we know Liberty Station as a vibrant community of restaurants, shops, fitness centers, artist studios, and museums – and generally just one of the most beautiful spots to spend a day.

But before its transformation, it served as San Diego’s Naval Training Center (NTC). Opened in 1923, this naval training center housed over 2 million Navy recruits through 1997. Most on-property buildings at Liberty Station are original to this time, such as the Liberty Station Public Market, which was the site of the NTC’s mess hall!

Centennial Anniversary

2023 marks 100 Years of Liberty Station! The Centennial anniversary is not only a milestone for San Diego and its rich military history, but also the celebration of one of the most successful adaptive reuse projects in America.

Since its establishment, 1.75 million recruits and 1 million school sailors have played a role in the history of Liberty Station.  Their stories have left a legacy of honor on the grounds.

Experience life as a recruit

Life as a recruit at Liberty Station was, shall we say, slightly less comfortable than our experiences at Liberty Station today! Feature exhibits being showcased around Memorial Day will give you a taste of what life was like.

Explore Liberty Station with their “A Walk Back Through Time” self-guided walking tour with audio to discover the history of your favorite Liberty Station buildings.

Check out the ‘Life of an NTC Recruit‘ exhibit in the Dick Laud NTC Command Center to see the life of a recruit in the 12 weeks from arrival to graduation.

Before you arrive, hear directly from some of the NTC graduates as they tell there story of life at Liberty Station in this series of videos.

Brush up on your history this Memorial Day Weekend!

Brush up on your history of the military community’s presence and impact in San Diego this Memorial Day Weekend with a visit to Liberty Station!

Happy Memorial Day, San Diego.