The official newsletter of the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum providing regular museum updates and sharing historical information about the Seabees and the Civil Engineer Corps. | |
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The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm
The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum is open to the public. The Museum charges no admission and parking is free. The Museum is located outside of the gate and is completely accessible to all visitors. To help ensure a safe and comfortable experience, please review the following guidelines:
- Please do not enter the museum if you feel sick or have a temperature over 100 degrees.
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The Seabee Museum Archive Reading Room is open to researchers Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm (closed from 12pm-1pm for lunch). Reading Room access is by appointment only; make an appointment.
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Official Navy Events and Ceremonies for groups of 200 or less; make a reservation.
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In-person tours available for groups of 10 or less; make a reservation.
- The Bee Fun Zone STEM Center is reopening on July 5th on Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-1pm.
For the most updated visitor information, follow the museum on Facebook or visit the museum’s website.
Upcoming Family Events:
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It has been a year since the museum reopened post-pandemic and we are finally getting back to a more normal battle rhythm. The museum is now open six days a week and all COVID protocols have been lifted. The staff and volunteers have been thrilled to be able to welcome back official Navy events such as retirements and reenlistments. Last week the museum hosted two back-to-back retirements in one day and welcomed more than 300 visitors.
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220121-N-AS200-3143 (Jan. 21, 2022) PORT HUENEME, Calif. – Capt. Robert "Barr" Kimnach III, commanding officer, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), left, presents Construction Mechanic Petty Officer 1st Class Mathew Vajgrt with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during Vajgrt's retirement ceremony at Seabee Museum Jan. 21, 2022. NBVC supports and enables the Fleet, Fighter and Family by providing effective and efficient readiness from the shore and is home to the Pacific Coast Seabees, the Westcoast Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and the U.S. Navy’s “Ghost Fleet,” unmanned air and sea vehicles. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Drew Verbis/Released) | |  |
220121-N-AS200-3140 (Jan. 21, 2022) PORT HUENEME, Calif. – Capt. Kirk Lagerquist, chief staff officer, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), delivers remarks during Construction Mechanic Petty Officer 1st Class Mathew Vajgrt's retirement ceremony at Seabee Museum Jan. 21, 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Drew Verbis/Released) | | |
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The Museum is slowing but surely expanding its education program offerings. Next month the Bee Fun Zone STEM Center will reopen Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 1pm to provide our younger visitors a hands-on interactive experience. In addition, the Museum will be launching “Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead”, a fun, free programming for the whole family! Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead will focus on art, science, and other hands-on learning activities related to the Seabee ratings. Stay tuned to the museum’s social media channels for more details.
Starting with this edition of “The SeabeeGram” we are changing the presentation format of the lead article. Instead of embedding the article in the body of the newsletter, it will be posted on the museum blog. This shift should not only make it easier to read, but will also make the article available to a wider audience.
This edition of the newsletter continues the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Seabees with the article ““Stepping Stones to Victory”” written by then Commodore William Mack Angas, USN, CEC. During World War II, Angas served as the Officer in Charge of the Third Naval Construction Brigade, and head of the Base Planning and Construction Division of the Service Force, Seventh Fleet. He was responsible for overseeing the successful construction of sixteen Naval bases from Australia to the Philippine Islands. It is from this unique operational perspective that Angas gives an eyewitness account of the behind-the-scenes planning that went into constructing the major bases from which the great campaigns of the Southwest Pacific were launched. This article was published as a three-part series in the Civil Engineer Corps Bulletin between August and October 1947.
Happy history hunting,
Lara Godbille, Ph.D.
Director, U.S. Navy Seabee Museum
Naval History and Heritage Command
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“Stepping Stones to Victory”
by Commodore William Mack Angas, CEC, USN
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“Stepping Stones to Victory” was written Commodore William Mack Angas, USN, CEC, and published as a three-part series in the Civil Engineer Corps Bulletin between August and October 1947. Angas, a career Civil Engineer Corps officer, joined the Navy in 1918 and retired in 1950 with the rank of Vice Admiral. Angas had a unique wartime career. During 1944 and 1945, Angas Officer in Charge of the Third Naval Construction Brigade, and head of the Base Planning and Construction Division of the Service Force, Seventh Fleet. He was responsible in a large measure for the successful construction of sixteen Naval bases from Australia to the Philippine Islands including the famous Seabees of bases at Milne Bay, Manus, Hollandia, Biak, Morotai, Leyte Gulf, Mindoro, Subic Bay, Palawan, Zamboango, Mactan Island, as well as the Seventh Fleet Headquarters at Manila. It is from this unique operational perspective that Angas gives an eyewitness account of the behind-the-scenes planning that went into constructing the major bases from which the great campaigns of the Southwest Pacific were launched.
To read the article, please click here.
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From the Collection
In 1967, the United States Navy Seabees celebrated their 25th anniversary. To mark the special milestone, a special medallion was commissioned to be made by the Philadelphia Mint. This trial medallion was created during that process and was used by the mint to fine tune the details. It is made of pewter and features two oak branches surrounding the Seabee insignia, with the phrase U.S NAVY SEABEES framing the insignia.
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The Battle of Midway, 4-6 June 1942
The United States Navy recognizes the great significance of the Battle of Midway as one of the greatest victories in its history and in that of our great nation. The Naval History and Heritage Command produced this 2018 video to tell the story about the victory at Midway. The video uses World War II file footage to convey the importance of the U.S. Navy's efforts at Midway and summarizes how the Allies gained naval dominance in the Pacific.
Click here to watch video
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Last issue we asked: What exhibit would you most like to see in the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum?:
"An exhibit on Seabee Betty on Guam." - William N.
"More about Vietnam." - Edward K.
"I would like to see the whole story about what the Seabees did in OIF and OEF." - Christine P.
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The question for this issue is:
The Museum plans on starting a lecture series. What Seabee-related topic would you like to learn more about?
Tell us in 50 words or less.
Representative responses will be published in the July issue. Please submit your submissions to [email protected] no later than Friday, June 24th.
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Connecting on Social Media |
While the museum is closed, staff are increasing education activities and offerings on social media. Follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for On This Day in Seabee History, interactive activities, insights into museum operations, and other fun information!
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Seabee Historical Foundation |
The SeabeeGram is published with support of the Seabee Historical Foundation (SHF). The SHF is the non-profit charitable partner of the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum chartered to support the museum and its programs.
For more information about the SHF, visit their website at www.seabeehf.org.
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Museum Staff is always available to assist you with Seabee-related historical questions or museum operations questions.
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