Adventure 003, Site 090-Fort Tejon

Gary at Ft Tejon

Capture California, the Game-2013

Adventure: 003, Site 090-Fort Tejon

California Landmark Number: 129

National Registry ID: 1971000140

Team: YOLT

Date:  October 4, 2013

Location:

Coordinates: Latitude: 34° 52.394′ N, 118° 53.73′ W

Address: Fort Tejón State Historic Park

Description:

As you go up the Grapevine from Bakersfield, you pass by Fort Tejon State Historical Park. A few miles further is a rest stop. We asked ourselves, why not just stop at the Fort for a break and gather in a little bit of our history? So last year we did that and enjoyed ourselves. Since then, we have made it a tradition of stopping here on our way down to see our daughter. The good thing about this year is that we were a bit earlier and with Gary's parents. So we got out and enjoyed the area, including touring the barracks and the capitan's home. Not bad for a rest break.

From NRHP:
This military post was established by the United States Army on June 24, 1854, to suppress stock rustling and to protect Indians in the San Joaquin Valley. As regimental Headquarters of the First Dragoons, Fort Tejon, was an important military, social, and political center. Camels for transportation were introduced here in 1858. The fort was abandoned September 11, l864. Subsequently, it became headquarters for the Tejon Ranch until acquired by the State in 1940. Considerable restoration reconstruction is planned for the area.



From the History of Fort Tejon:
Fort Tejon is located in the Grapevine Canyon, the main route between California's great central valley and Southern California. The fort was established to protect and control the Indians who were living on the Sebastian Indians Reservation, and to protect both the Indians and white settlers from raids by the wide-ranging and rather warlike Paiutes, Chemeheui, Mojave, and other Indian groups of the desert regions to the south east. Fort Tejon was first garrisoned by the United States Army on August 10, 1854 and was abandoned ten years later on September 11, 1864.


References:

• Wikipedia
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org)
• Landmark Blogger and Song Writer
• History of Fort Tejon
• Fort Tejon State Historical Park Web Site
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)