Roop's Fort
Also known as: Roop's Trading Post,Fort Defiance,Roop House
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 by Isaac Roop, this log building on North Weatherlow Street in Susanville measures 21 by 30 feet. It has no foundation, a shake roof, one floor and a loft, and it is large for a log structure. It remains on its original site, and its only alteration is a replacement shake roof made to copy the nearly vanished original. It is regarded as the first building put up by white settlers in Lassen County and served as a trading post, the first one emigrants reached after Fort Hall. Roop used it to store merchandise and supplies, and settlers met there in 1856 to form the Nataqua territory and the town of Susanville. During the Sagebrush War of 1863-64, a boundary dispute between Plumas County in California and Roop County in Nevada Territory, supporters of Roop fortified it, and it became known as Fort Defiance. The dispute ended with the survey of the state line and the creation of Lassen County in 1864.
Significance in brief: It was the first building erected by white settlers in Lassen County and the first trading post emigrants met after Fort Hall on their way west. It served as a meeting place for the short-lived Nataqua territory and was fortified as Fort Defiance during the 1863-64 Sagebrush War boundary dispute. Its builder, Isaac Roop, became provisional governor of what became Nevada Territory.
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 74000516, listed May 2, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. Weatherlow St., Susanville |
|---|---|
| County | Lassen County |
| Listed | May 2, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000516 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific dates 1854 (construction) and 1863-64 (Sagebrush War) |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Roop (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition fair; logs and roof in fair condition. Located on its original site. The only alteration is a new shake roof copying the old one. Owned by the City of Susanville and used as a park/museum. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.41879, -120.65670 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 74000516.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7366348
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.