Wasco Union High School Auditorium
Why it's listed
Completed in 1929, this 1,182-seat auditorium sits on the Wasco Union High School campus in Kern County, California. Architect Ernest J. Kump Sr. of Fresno designed it in the Renaissance Revival style, with stuccoed walls, hip roofs of Spanish clay tile, a front portico with three arches, and cast plaster theatrical motifs. Inside, murals decorate the foyer and proscenium, and stenciled borders run throughout. It is the oldest remaining building on the campus, and later changes have been modest, including fire escapes added in 1959 and new carpeting in 1979. Its significance rests on two points. It served as the setting for graduations, school plays, concerts and community events from 1929 through 1947, and its bright Exposition-inspired colors and ornament make it an unusually intact example of its style in a small farming town. Oil-industry tax revenue helped pay for construction shortly before the Great Depression.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for social history, as the community's main venue for graduations, school events, concerts and civic gatherings from 1929 through 1947. It is also significant under Criterion C for architecture, as a well-preserved Renaissance Revival design by Kump with Exposition colors, plaster ornament and original interior murals. It is the oldest surviving building on the campus.
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 97001188, listed September 30, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1900 Seventh St., Wasco |
|---|---|
| County | Kern County |
| Listed | September 30, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001188 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1947 |
| Architect / builder | Kump, Ernest J., Architect, Fresno, CA; Johnson, A.O., Engineer, Fresno, CA; Mellencamp, E.H., Builder, Fresno, CA |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In almost constant use as a school auditorium; described as in good condition, with water damage, worn paint and vandalized seats needing repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.59475, -119.34650 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 97001188.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.