Camp McQuaide, Military training facility in Santa Cruz County, California, United States.
Camp McQuaide was a 664-acre military installation in Santa Cruz County containing barracks, a hospital, and artillery training grounds. The facility accommodated up to 5,000 military personnel and featured extensive training infrastructure.
Established in 1926 as a California National Guard training center, the installation served as a Coast Artillery Replacement Training Center during World War II. This military role shaped the site for decades.
The site became Monterey Bay Academy in 1948, where students engage in farming and gardening as central parts of their education. This transformation connected the military grounds to local agricultural traditions.
The site now operates as a private school campus with restricted access for visitors. It is best to verify current access policies before planning a visit to the location.
The installation bears the name of Major Joseph P. McQuaide, a Catholic chaplain, making it the only U.S. military camp named after a priest. This naming choice was unusual for a military facility of that era.
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