Drum Barracks
Why it's listed
Drum Barracks in Wilmington, California, began in 1862 as the United States Military Headquarters for Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. The complex was a garrison and supply base, and it served as the terminus for camel pack trains run by the Army until 1863. Its wood frame buildings included a commanding officer's quarters, adjutant's office, two large soldiers' barracks, a hospital, guardhouse, laundry, commissary and a stone powder magazine. The post was abandoned in 1866. Only the powder magazine and the Officers' Quarters remain. The Officers' Quarters, at 1053 Carey Street, is a two-story wood frame building of about 60 by 87 feet on an exposed brick foundation. Its late Greek Revival form is combined with a hipped roof, a bracketed front porch, paired double-hung windows with louvered shutters, and symmetrical halls with mahogany stair railings. It is in fair condition with minor alterations. The site is a Civil War landmark in California and is California Historical Landmark #169.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Drum Barracks as the United States Military Headquarters for Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico during the Civil War. It served as a garrison, a supply base and the terminus for Army camel pack trains until 1863. After being abandoned in 1866, the site remains a landmark of the Civil War in California.
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 71000161, listed February 12, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1053 Carey St., Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | February 12, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000161 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival with the hipped roof of the earlier Federal style |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Officers' Quarters in fair condition with minor alterations; only it and the powder magazine remain. Owned by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.78481, -118.25759 (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 71000161.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5309045
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.