Camp San Luis Obispo
Encyclopedia
Camp San Luis Obispo is the original home of the California Army National Guard
. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army
during World War II
.
. The camp is in San Luis Obispo County
, which is on the Central Coast of California
. State Route 1 passes through the camp about halfway between the cities of Morro Bay
and San Luis Obispo
. Since World War II, the camp has had an area of 15433 acres (62 km²). The camp originally comprised 6274 acres (25 km²), and a further 9159 acres (37 km²) was acquired during 1941. During World War II, the camp had quarters for 1,523 officers and 19,383 enlisted personnel.
Cuesta College
opened for classes in 1965 on a southwest portion of the camp, rented from the California National Guard. The Cuesta College Board of Trustees purchased 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of the camp and 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) adjoining for a permanent campus
. The land was on the other side of Chorro Creek from the temporary campus. Construction was started in 1970 and the transfer from the temporary site was completed in 1978.
El Chorro Regional Park was created in 1972 when over 700 acres (2.8 km²) of the camp were given to San Luis Obispo County. The park contains barbecue
facilities, a baseball field
, volleyball courts and camping
sites. Dairy Creek Golf Course is located in the southwestern portion of the park. An area in the northern portion of the park is off limits due to the discovery of unexploded munitions.
Salinas Dam, which forms Santa Margarita Lake
, was built to supply water to Camp San Luis Obispo. The lake now supplies water to the city of San Luis Obispo, though it is still owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
.
Following the September 11 attacks, O'Connor Way, which runs through the southwest of the camp, was closed to through traffic. The road is a shortcut for those traveling between southern San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College or Morro Bay. The road is open daily from 0700-1800. After-hours emergency access can be coordinated through Camp San Luis Obispo Security Forces.
maintains the California Military Academy
at Camp San Luis Obispo for the use and training of members of California and other western state National Guard units, as well as for the use of the California State Military Reserve
.35.3252517°N 120.7164325°W
. Opened in 1995, the museum's exhibits highlight the works of the Civilian Conservation Corps
in California. One building is a replica of a 1930s CCC barracks
, including tools, uniforms and other artifacts. The museum is open by appointment.
The museum also contains the library and research center of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni Buildings.
.
On 1 July 2011, Building 1301 at Camp San Luis Obispo was assigned as the new permanent headquarters of the California Cadet Corps
.
California Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
Camp San Luis Obispo, formerly called Camp Merriam, was established in 1928 and is called the original home of the California National GuardCalifornia National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
. The camp is in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
, which is on the Central Coast of California
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
. State Route 1 passes through the camp about halfway between the cities of Morro Bay
Morro Bay, California
Morro Bay is a waterfront city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,234, down from 10,350 at the 2000 census.- History :...
and San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. Since World War II, the camp has had an area of 15433 acres (62 km²). The camp originally comprised 6274 acres (25 km²), and a further 9159 acres (37 km²) was acquired during 1941. During World War II, the camp had quarters for 1,523 officers and 19,383 enlisted personnel.
Cuesta College
Cuesta College
Cuesta College is a public community college located in San Luis Obispo County near the Central Coast of California. It currently offers 76 Associate's degree programs and 96 certificate programs...
opened for classes in 1965 on a southwest portion of the camp, rented from the California National Guard. The Cuesta College Board of Trustees purchased 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of the camp and 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) adjoining for a permanent campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
. The land was on the other side of Chorro Creek from the temporary campus. Construction was started in 1970 and the transfer from the temporary site was completed in 1978.
El Chorro Regional Park was created in 1972 when over 700 acres (2.8 km²) of the camp were given to San Luis Obispo County. The park contains barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
facilities, a baseball field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
, volleyball courts and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
sites. Dairy Creek Golf Course is located in the southwestern portion of the park. An area in the northern portion of the park is off limits due to the discovery of unexploded munitions.
Salinas Dam, which forms Santa Margarita Lake
Santa Margarita Lake
Santa Margarita Lake, also called Salinas Reservoir, is a lake several miles southeast of the town of Santa Margarita in San Luis Obispo County, California. The lake was created by the building of Salinas Dam on the southern end of the Salinas River, very close to the river's origin in the Coast...
, was built to supply water to Camp San Luis Obispo. The lake now supplies water to the city of San Luis Obispo, though it is still owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
Following the September 11 attacks, O'Connor Way, which runs through the southwest of the camp, was closed to through traffic. The road is a shortcut for those traveling between southern San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College or Morro Bay. The road is open daily from 0700-1800. After-hours emergency access can be coordinated through Camp San Luis Obispo Security Forces.
Military academy
The California Army National GuardCalifornia Army National Guard
The California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
maintains the California Military Academy
California Military Academy
The California Military Academy is a military academy of the California Army National Guard located at Camp San Luis Obispo.-History:The school started as an idea of an "Officer Candidate School" in 1950. However, a need for an academy in California convinced Major General Curtis D. O’Sullivan to...
at Camp San Luis Obispo for the use and training of members of California and other western state National Guard units, as well as for the use of the California State Military Reserve
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed...
.35.3252517°N 120.7164325°W
Conservation Corps State Museum
The Conservation Corps State Museum is located in four barracks buildings on the grounds of Camp San Luis Obispo in San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. Opened in 1995, the museum's exhibits highlight the works of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in California. One building is a replica of a 1930s CCC barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
, including tools, uniforms and other artifacts. The museum is open by appointment.
The museum also contains the library and research center of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni Buildings.
National Guard Youth Programs
A major tenant of Camp San Luis Obispo since the early 2000s has been the Grizzly Youth Academy, California's version of the Youth Challenge ProgramYouth Challenge Program
The Youth Challenge Program is a program run by the National Guard of the United States whose stated mission is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program...
.
On 1 July 2011, Building 1301 at Camp San Luis Obispo was assigned as the new permanent headquarters of the California Cadet Corps
California Cadet Corps
The California Cadet Corps is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.-Role and purpose:...
.