Using Waters from Landlocked Idaho: This Idaho Town Was Once Home to the World's Second-Largest Naval Base

Thu Mar 27th, 2025

During World War II, an Idaho town was home to the second-largest Naval Training Station in the world.

The Farragut Naval Training Station, which was named after David Farragut – the first admiral in the U.S. Navy, opened in March 1942.

Located in Northern Idaho between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, Farragut sat at the South End of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s biggest and deepest lake.

By September of 1942, the base’s population grew to 55,000 – making it the largest town in the state.

“During the 30 months it was operational, Farragut trained 293,381 recruits and over 25,000 service school attendees,” the Idaho Military Museum notes. “It was originally believed that 19 states sent Naval recruits to Farragut. It has since come to light that there were 24 (and counting!).”

Only open for three years, the base graduated its last recruit in March 1945 and was decommissioned in June 1946.

One of the main buildings at the Farragut Training Station still stands today.

“Made of concrete blocks, the Brig is square in design with an inner courtyard. It is one of a few structures that remain from the 776 buildings that made up the Farragut Naval Training Station during World War II,” Park and Recreation’s website notes. “The Brig is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Here, visitors can see the Museum at the Brig where boot camp, naval and war memorabilia are held.Today, the Navy continues to use Pend Oreille to test submarines. In fact, the USS Idaho – a Virginia-class attack submarine – is the fifth U.S. Navy submarine named after the state. It launched last month from Connecticut.