From Spanish Land Grants to World War II: An Overview of Historic Resources at the Naval Air Weapons Station, Point Mugu, California
Creators: name: Swanson, Mark T.
Publisher: name: SRI Press
Year: 1994
Subjects: subject: Ventura County (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/1726/ventura-county-county
subject: Santa Monica Mountains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/24703/santa-monica-mountains
subject: Santa Clara River
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/3846/santa-clara-river
subject: Point Mugu
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/82696/point-mugu
subject: Southern California Coast
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/47784/southern-california-coast
subject: Oxnard Plain
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/41913/oxnard-plain
subject: City of Los Angeles
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/82682/city-of-los-angeles
subject: Point Mugu Lagoon
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/82697/point-mugu-lagoon
subject: Calleguas Creek
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/24764/calleguas-creek
subject: Early American Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/4109/early-american-period
subject: World War II Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/4112/world-war-ii-period
subject: Spanish-Mexican Period
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/temporal-keyword/6312/spanish-mexican-period
subject: Spanish
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/31/spanish
subject: Historic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/25/historic
subject: Euroamerican
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/culture-keyword/28/euroamerican
subject: Diseno of Rancho Guadalasca
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/81174/diseno-of-rancho-guadalasca
subject: Naval Air Weapons Station
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/81176/naval-air-weapons-station
subject: Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-name/81175/rancho-el-rio-de-santa-clara
subject: Governmental Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/318/governmental-structure
subject: Historic Governmental Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/320/historic-governmental-structure
subject: Military Structure
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/322/military-structure
subject: Non-Domestic Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/309/non-domestic-structures
subject: Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/251/domestic-structure-or-architectural-complex
subject: Settlements
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/252/settlements
subject: Building Materials
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/8/building-materials
subject: Archaeological Overview
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/1/archaeological-overview
subject: Historic Background Research
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/18/historic-background-research
subject: Consultation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/4/consultation
subject: Heritage Management
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/24/heritage-management

description: This report, prepared for the Naval Air Weapons Station at Point Mugu, Ventura County, California, explores the historical development of the Mugu Lagoon area from the time of Spanish exploration to the advent of American involvement in World War II. The report provides historical context for the 27 historic archaeological sites, 50 years of age or greater, that have been identified so far on the military installation. Some post-World War II developments are also briefly traced in order to document post-war disturbances to the historic archaeological sites. During most of the nineteenth century, large ranches occupied the areas inland from the coastal marshes that surround Mugu Lagoon. By the early 1900s, agriculture had replaced ranching, leading to the development of lima bean and sugar beet farms along the peripheries of the lagoon marshes. At about the same time, the marshes themselves attracted duck hunters, leading to the establishment of hunting clubs like the Ventura County Game Preserve. By the 1930s, the coastal highway between Ventura County and Los Angeles opened the area to even greater use by sportsmen and hunters. The hunting dubs expanded during this period, but even more popular was the Mugu Fish Camp, near the inlet of the lagoon. The camp contained a restaurant, charter boat, fishing pier and platform, as well as cabins and stores. The movie industry was also attracted to this area, and Mugu Lagoon was the backdrop for at least two films. All of these developments were eclipsed by military use of the area during World War II and the years that followed.