OROVILLE, Calif. — When the U.S. military needs to get rid of excess or used items, they sell them off. A sizable portion of those items end up in a warehouse-sized building on the side of Highway 70 in Butte County.
There, they will be re-sold or preserved at Surplus City in Oroville, home of the Military Museum of Butte County.
Have you ever been driving along in your car and thought, "Hmm, I wonder where I could buy a real Air Force fighter helmet? Or, maybe a government-issued hazmat suit?" Well, if those items are on your wish list, just head into Surplus City and talk to Walter Seidenglanz, who’s got a little bit of everything.
“Canteens — there's a tank, actually, across the highway. So, canteens to tanks,” Seidenglanz said.
Walters’ dad, Steve Seidenglanz, started purchasing surplus military items at auctions back in the 1970s. At first, he was re-selling the items for a profit but soon discovered some of the items were too important to sell.
“Over time, more and more stuff accumulated and finally it was enough stuff to say, 'OK, let's make a museum out of it,'” Seidenglanz said.
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The Military Museum of Butte County is what Seidenglanz's dad called it, and he displayed the historic items between the shelves of camo paint and ammo boxes. One of the centerpieces is a rare 1950s-era drone.
“Yeah, people think drones are all new, but they absolutely are not. We’ve been doing it for a long time,” Seidenglanz said.
Some of the items date back to World War I, like the set of mule-drawn cargo wagons. Then, there’s the World War II Harley Davidson motorcycle.
It's one of the few museums that allows you to touch or try on items. You never know what you’ll find.
All of the museum's weapons and ammunition have been deactivated and inspected by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including the giant Gatling gun.
Whether you have come to buy or just admire the rockets, bazookas or giant grenades, Surplus City and the Military Museum of Butte County will be here for those interested.
“If they get sold or destroyed, they are no longer around," Seidenglanz said. "So, just like anything antique, people find value in seeing old things."
MORE MILITARY MACHINES ON THE BACKROADS: A former Army Air Corps flight school in Merced County is a magnet for military aircraft fans. Its massive collection includes a decommissioned Air Force One.
