Camp Pendleton-State Military Reservation Historic District
Also known as: State Rifle Range; VDHR File Number 134-0413
Why it's listed
Camp Pendleton/State Military Reservation is a Virginia Army National Guard facility just south of the main resort area of Virginia Beach. It began as the State Rifle Range, laid out in 1911 with construction starting in 1912. Three major building campaigns shaped it. The first established the rifle range core, the U.S. Navy added buildings in 1919 during World War I, and the U.S. Army built the majority of the surviving structures during World War II, when the post was dedicated as Camp Pendleton. Those wartime buildings, including barracks and mess halls, follow Quartermaster Corps 700 Series drawings and were meant to be temporary, yet sixty-nine remain. Earlier resources include bungalows used as officers' housing, brick ammunition buildings, and concrete block support buildings. The post also held the first state-owned airfield in Virginia, which served civilian and military aircraft. The district includes 114 contributing resources, among them six sites such as the rifle ranges, drill field and cantonment roads.
Significance in brief: The district preserves the layout of a state rifle range and training camp that grew through three building campaigns. It contains a large group of standardized World War II temporary buildings built from Quartermaster Corps 700 Series drawings, along with earlier bungalows and support buildings. It also held Virginia's first state-owned airfield and served as Camp Pendleton during World War II.
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 04000852, listed September 26, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by General Booth Blvd., S. Birdneck Rd., and the Atlantic Ocean within Military Reservation Property, Virginia Beach (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Virginia Beach |
| Listed | September 26, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04000852 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Navy (1917-1919 campaign); U.S. Army / Quartermaster Corps (World War II, 700 Series drawings); Civil Works Administration (1930s mess buildings) |
| Architectural style | Other/World War II Temporary Buildings; Other/World War I Buildings; Early 20th Century American Movements/Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains an active Virginia Army National Guard facility; some buildings are occupied as residences and four buildings are scheduled for demolition. |
| Acreage | 328 |
| Coordinates | 36.81667, -75.98041 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04000852.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5027498
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.