9. Vandenberg Air Force Base

SANTA MARIA.   In 1941, the U.S. Army moved into a sleepy northwestern corner of Santa Barbara County that became known as Camp Cooke. Soldiers stationed there trained for combat against German, Japanese, and (some five years later) North Korean forces. By 1957, Camp Cooke had been transformed into a space and ballistic missile operational and training facility. The following year, it came under the auspices of the U.S. Airforce and was renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base. Today, Vandenberg is the only U.S. military installation that fires unmanned government and commercial satellites, as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles. Peace-time tours of the base are available; however, reservations are a must.   (© 10Best)

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