Lighter-than-Air Ship Hangars
Also known as: Marine Corps Air Station
Why it's listed
Two enormous airship hangars stand at the Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter) in Santa Ana, California. Built in 1943 when the site was the Santa Ana Naval Lighter-Than-Air Base, they were two of a series constructed to identical plans at ten locations across the country. Each hangar is 1,088 feet long, 297 feet wide and 178 feet to the roof, with concrete end structures holding six huge sliding doors and a wood-framed arched roof carried by fifty-one wooden braces. They are counted among the largest wood-supported structures in the world and have long been a landmark in Orange County. Each could shelter six airships, an entire squadron, used in anti-submarine defense during World War II. After the war the base was decommissioned, and from 1949 to 1951 private enterprise used the hangars as an aircraft museum and storage area. Since 1951 they have housed helicopter squadrons. The roofs were replaced in 1957.
Significance in brief: The hangars are described as among the largest wood-supported structures in the world and a long-standing Orange County landmark. They represent the period in World War II when airships were part of United States anti-submarine defense, and each could shelter a full squadron of six airships. They later housed helicopter squadrons during development of the vertical assault.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000451, listed April 3, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Valencia and Redhill Aves., Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | April 3, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000451 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1943-present |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in military use housing helicopters; in good condition, original appearance and location, reroofed in late 1957. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 33.70350, -117.82402 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000451.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6764074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.