{"nrhp_refnum":"71000140","name":"Fort Tejon","other_names":["Fort Tejon State Historic Park"],"category":"district","location":{"address":"3 mi. NW of Lebec","address_restricted":false,"city":"Lebec","county":"Kern County","state":"CA","lat":34.872299408500055,"lon":-118.89689840645764,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1971-05-06","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Military","Transportation","Politics/Government","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"Fort Tejon is a former U.S. Army military post in Grapevine Canyon near Lebec, Kern County, California, now a state historic park. Established in 1854, it centers on a parade ground surrounded by restored buildings and ruins of adobe and wood-frame structures.","why_significant":"The post was founded in 1854 to suppress stock rustling and protect Indians in the San Joaquin Valley. As regimental headquarters of the First Dragoons, it served as an important military, social and political center. Camels were introduced here for transportation in 1858. The nomination cites significance in military, political, architectural and transportation areas.","narrative":"Fort Tejon is a former U.S. Army post in Grapevine Canyon, near Lebec in Kern County, California, on the sloping, oak-shaded ground along old Highway 99. The Army established it on June 24, 1854, to suppress stock rustling and protect Indians in the San Joaquin Valley. As regimental headquarters of the First Dragoons, it became an important military, social and political center. Camels were introduced here for transportation in 1858, and the fort was abandoned on September 11, 1864. It later served as headquarters for the Tejon Ranch until the State acquired it in 1940. Of the twenty or more original adobe and wood-frame buildings, most are ruins. Two barracks and an officers' quarters have been restored, and an orderlies' quarters has been stabilized. The remaining buildings and ruins surround a parade ground of roughly 400 by 400 feet. A park office and orientation center was built in 1958, and a nearby oak commemorates the pioneer Peter Lebec.","period_of_significance":"June 24, 1854 to September 11, 1864","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Most of the twenty or more original adobe and wood-frame buildings are ruins. Two barracks buildings and an officers' quarters have been restored and maintained, and an orderlies' quarters has been stabilized. Preservation work was in progress, with more restoration planned.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:32.089579-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/71000140.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/71000140/d30e15dcaf-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/71000140/d30e15dcaf-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Yellowute at English Wikipedia","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Tejon_Barracks_from_CO_Qtrs.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Yellowute at English Wikipedia</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Tejon_Barracks_from_CO_Qtrs.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123858851","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tejon","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1415871"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/kern-county/fort-tejon-71000140/"}