First Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Rising in the center of downtown Bakersfield, this church at 1200 Truxtun Avenue was designed by local architect Charles H. Biggar and built around 1930-32 by contractors James Currie and M. A. Dulgar. Its exposed reinforced concrete walls keep the texture of the wooden forms, and a 70-foot bell tower and red tile roof give it a Romanesque character. The Latin-cross sanctuary has a high timbered ceiling and stained glass by the Judson Studio of Pasadena, while the Fellowship Hall is in Mission Revival style, joined to the tower by an arcade. The nomination presents it as the finest surviving example of its type in the southern San Joaquin Valley and as an outstanding use of architectural concrete. It was the only downtown religious building to escape damage in the 1952 earthquakes. Apart from a small 1956 addition for a choir room and study, the building remains unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the finest remaining example of its architectural type in Bakersfield, Kern County and the southern San Joaquin Valley. It is cited as an exceptional use of exposed, board-formed reinforced concrete that fuses Romanesque and Mission Revival design. It was also the only downtown religious building undamaged by the 1952 earthquakes, and it is the work of a prominent local architect.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000478, listed January 2, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1200 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield |
|---|---|
| County | Kern County |
| Listed | January 2, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Charles H. Biggar (architect); James Currie and M. A. Dulgar (general contractors) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque and Mission Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; condition described as good in general, except for roof leaks. Largely unaltered apart from a 1956 addition. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.37374, -119.01584 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452360
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.