About this cache:
Moffett Field was established in 1931 to house Navy dirigibles intended to support the U.S. Naval Fleet's Pacific Ocean maneuvers. Hangar 1 was built to house the USS Macon. In 1945 the airfield was renamed after Admiral Moffett, who lost his life in the 1933 USS Akron's crash, and the runways were improved to handle modern aircraft.
By 1950 jet aircraft replaced dirigible operations. Moffett Field became the largest Naval Air Transport base on the West Coast. Most Eastside/Airfield district buildings were constructed in the 1940s to 1960s. Intense jet aircraft operations at Moffett Field ended in 1963, due to noise and air traffic issues. Navy Orion P-3 long-range ocean surveillance aircraft began operations. The Navy transferred the airfield to NASA in 1994, and Moffett Federal Airfield was established as a limited-use federal airfield.
Moffett Field Today
A lot of wonderful things are planned for Moffett Field in the near future, but even today the field is a very interesting place to visit. It's literally a place where our future meets our past. Historic landmarks, and buildings near them, house people who doing great things; from building pieces of the international space station at NASA, to retaining pieces of the field's history in historic Hangar 1.
NASA Ames Research Center and Museum
The Ames Research Center currently operates a small museum which highlights the work scientists from Ames have done over the past decades.
Moffett Field Historical Museum
Open Wednesday through Saturday, 10AM-3PM admission is free
The Moffett Field Historical Society is always working to record and retain information about the field's rich history. One way they do that is by running this museum located within historic Hangar 1. Artifacts, exhibits, and even a gift shop full of unique merchandise welcome visitors who come to visit. A very interesting place, that is often over looked by other local guides.
Hangar 1
Hangar 1 has been a Santa Clara Valley landmark since 1933. It still stands today, and is often used for conventions, private parties, and annual air shows. This massive hangar is truly an amazing sight. When looking up at the ceiling from the floor of the hangar, visitors often feel a sense of vertigo. The hangar is so tall and massive, that fog sometimes forms within it. The panels covering it were found to contain asbestos and were removed between 2010 and 2012. Planetary Ventures (a subsididiary of Google) now leases the hangar and plans a full restoration by 2025. Nearby is the California Air and Space Center. They have a lot to do with developing the Mars Rovers.
I chose this location not only because it's a big piece of history for our State but worldwide with the research that goes on. There are also many other things of interest around this area the technology plus Wetlands near this location. Google, Microsoft, the Computer Tech Museum, SGI as well as aerospace firms reside nearby. Silicon Valley is where a lot of the technology boom started. Be sure to spend a few hours here. There are tons of caches near here and a lot of history around this cache. Code is on the Log book and under the lid. This cache is located right along the Stevens creek trail. BTW Watch out for Skunks they chase.. We were chased by one while placing. Be sure to get the numbers off the lid or log book and take a picture if you are going for all 50 states and the grand cache at the end. For all others, just log this as a regular cache.
Since there is a lot of foot traffic along the adjacent Steven's Creek Trail, take care when retrieving and rehiding to preserve the cache
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