When was Sampson Naval Base active?

Between October 1942 and April 1946, over 411,000 sailors were trained for World War II at the Sampson Naval Base -- a 2,500-acre facility on the eastern shores of Seneca Lake.

Within six months of the attack on Pearl Harbor, construction began on the base, and it was completed in 270 days at a cost of just over $56 million. It was described as a "city within a city" by observers, as the base was divided into five units. Each was set up to train 5,000 recruits, and each contained a 14-acre parade ground and drill field, a drill hall with a 2-acre indoor drill area, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a movable stage and motion-picture equipment. Living and administrative areas included a mess hall; 22 barracks, each of which housed 228 men; two barracks for chief petty officers; two dispensaries; a ship-service building for recreation; an administrative building; a rifle range; a small-arms magazine; and a large storehouse. There was also a 2,700-seat auditorium; a reception and visitors building; a 400-seat chapel; a post office; a brig; disciplinary barracks; and guard barracks.

Today the property serves as the Sampson State Park -- with much of the original layout and buildings visible to the public.