Prospect Peak Fire Lookout
Why it's listed
On the summit of Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park stands a small fire lookout, a square wood-frame building about 14 feet on a side with a pyramidal roof. A belt of tall windows once encircled it, set between bands of horizontal ship-lap siding, and guy wires anchored it against the wind. It was probably built in 1912 or soon after, before the national park replaced the national forest in 1916. Its design appears to match the first lookout houses made in Red Bluff in the winter of 1911-12 for the Lassen National Forest. The building is now abandoned and weathered. The shingles, window glass and paint are gone, and some roof planks are missing, yet the structure and its built-in siting table remain. It is considered significant for conservation history as one of the oldest surviving Forest Service fire lookouts, and possibly the last of its type. Steel towers largely replaced such wooden lookouts by the 1920s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in the field of conservation as one of the oldest surviving U.S. Forest Service fire lookouts in the United States, and possibly the last of its type. It appears to represent a first-generation standard design for Forest Service lookouts. Despite deterioration, it keeps its structure and essential interior furnishings.
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 78000295, listed March 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Mineral, Mineral |
|---|---|
| County | Shasta County |
| Listed | March 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1912(?) |
| Areas of significance | Conservation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated but still intact: roof shingles, most corner metal sheathing and all window glass are gone, and the paint has weathered off. The building is listed as unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Nobles Emigrant Trail |
| Coordinates | 40.57331, -121.34606 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 78000295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683716
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.