That's great Stan. I think it's one of the more interesting buildings. You can almost follow the history of the base by looking at the buildings even down to the moorings for the seaplanes. Growing up across from the base on Bayou Grande we had unlimited access to everything. One of our parents worked in whatever area we wished to get to. We liked the old Survival School and of course the forts. My Grandparents were patients at the old hospital and that's where my Grandfather was stationed while in the Navy. Did you know that just west, across the street from the Photo School, about where the officers kids ball field was is where they found the original first Spanish fort? A few graves of the first Spanish were found just next to the Photo building.

A childhood friend of mine worked at the Aerospace Medical Lab and I don't know if you remember or knew about the Monkey Virus when it broke out but Steve was the first to contract it and he died. Not many people know NAS Pensacola did a lot of the early work now associated with NASA. We played around with Baker's little compartment that went 'up'. Back then it wasn't quite as 'secure' as things are now. :) We were just nosey kids. No threat to national security.

The Photo School, the Octogan House and a number of other buildings have now been declared National Treasure's or Landmark's. Either catagory insures their protection. Sadly, no one can secure anything when it comes up against something as terrible as Ivan. It's interesting when one looks at those older structures such as the forts and you realize they were built to last and they have, for the most part.

Pam