PORT HUENEME (NNS) -- The Seabee Museum groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Port Hueneme.

Once completed, the new Seabee Museum will finally be a true tribute to all of the remarkable work Seabees have done, and continue to do, all over the world.

Established in 1947, the Seabee Museum is the only official Navy museum, and is owned and operated by the Navy as part of the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). In June 2008, the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation gifted $10 million to the Navy for the purpose of building the museum. The contract was awarded earlier this year to R.Q. Construction.

The museum will be located outside the perimeter fence line of NBVC Port Hueneme to allow visitors easy access which should attract more visitors and increase local tourism.

It is fitting that the ground breaking was held during this, the "The Year of the Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps: Can Do!" which officially kicked off April 4 at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington.

The need for Seabees first arose during World War II. Over 100,000 Seabees were trained. They built major airstrips, bridges, roads, gasoline storage tanks, warehouses, hospitals and housing, on six continents and more than 300 islands.