The site of the new museum is the former Vandenberg Air Force Base golf course clubhouse. The building had been closed for many years, requiring the removal of dozens of dumpsters of overgrown scrub. (credit: D. Day)
Guardians on the West Coast: The Space and Missile Technology Center and Vandenberg museum (part 2)
by Dwayne A. Day Monday, July 7, 2025
On June 24, a new space and missiles museum opened in California. The Space and Missile Technology Center is located at Marshallia Ranch, on the former golf course of Vandenberg Air Force Base, now known as Vandenberg Space Force Base. The museum features exhibits, models, photographs, and artifacts about the history of Vandenberg. (See “Guardians on the West Coast – The Space and Missile Technology Center and Vandenberg museum,” The Space Review, June 30, 2025.)
This is the first major step in creating a museum that is publicly accessible. It is the result of the hard work of the museum’s former director, Jay Prichard, and many others on the base as well as volunteers who helped to make it possible. There are still many steps to go, including moving more large artifacts from the Space Launch Complex-10 location on base to the ranch, as well as adding interactive displays and other museum improvements. The museum will be telling the history of missile and rocket development and space launch on California’s Central Coast.
Former museum director Jay Prichard in 2023 pointing out various improvements to be made during the remodeling. Some lightweight displays were moved to the new location early. (credit: D. Day)
Some models were moved from the old location to the new one early in the process when volunteers were available to perform the work. The large windows will have to be replaced or covered with a film to protect against ultraviolet light, which will damage the displays. (credit: D. Day)
Prichard clearing brush behind the museum building with a salvaged tractor. This area is now a garden. (credit: D. Day)
An Agena upper stage/spacecraft located at the old Space Launch Complex 10 museum facility. This will eventually be moved to the new location. (credit: D. Day)
Space Launch Complex 10 has several buildings that still hold large and heavy artifacts that will eventually be moved to the new location. (credit: D. Day)
This is a former training device still housed at SLC-10. Guess what it is in the comments below. (credit: D. Day)
A heavy blast door at the SLC-10 museum location. (credit: D. Day)
An early ballistic missile reentry vehicle still at the SLC-10 location. (credit: D. Day)
Space Launch Complex-4, which is now extensively used by SpaceX for Falcon 9 launches, used to be the site of Titan IV launches carrying big, classified national security spacecraft. (credit: D. Day)
This model of the tower at SLC-4 was carefully transported from the old location to the new one and can now be seen by visitors. (credit: D. Day)
The Defense Meteorological Support Program weather satellites were launched from SLC-10 during the 1970s. They were one of the reasons why the site was preserved as a historic landmark and museum. (credit: D. Day)
The former VIP quarters at Vandenberg are located near the museum and will be put into use in the future. (credit: D. Day)
A model of the SLC-6 launch site. (credit: D. Day)
