Camp Pendleton/State Military Reservation is a Virginia Army National Guard facility located just south of the main resort area of Virginia Beach. Originally established on farmland and beachfront, the facility was laid out in 1911 and construction began in 1912. The first construction campaign in 1912 developed the State Rifle Range (known as Camp Trinkle) and, although most of the associated buildings were demolished by World War II, the layout remains visible. In 1919, the U.S. Navy further developed the rifle ranges, and during World War II, the U.S. Army built most of the extant facility and named it Camp Pendleton. The buildings vary from large two-story frame barracks to smaller bungalow residences, as well as support buildings dating from the 1910s to 1930s and World War II era temporary buildings. The post reflects the National Guard’s evolution in Virginia during the first half of the 20th century.

Additional documentation on Camp Pendleton/State Military Reservation was approved by the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.  This update to the original 2005 Camp Pendleton nomination provided additional information from a resurvey of the district’s resources, and further historical context research. In addition to an update of the historic district inventory, a particular focus was made on the cultural landscapes within the district in light of current scholarship, and in particular cultural landscapes in a military setting. One of the more noteworthy aspects of the Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation Historic District is its landscape, which has remained largely intact and illustrates the gradual evolution of this military post during both peacetime and conflict. Camp Pendleton has six significant cultural landscapes, all of which are integral in understanding the history of the camp.
[NRHP Approved: 2/5/2014]