Hospital Rock Army Camp Site
Why it's listed
Hospital Rock is an isolated lava formation on the south shore of Tule Lake, within Lava Beds National Monument in Siskiyou County, California. In 1873 the surrounding flat, grassy ground served twice as a camp for U.S. troops fighting the Modoc War, the only major Indian war fought in California. Captain Reuben Bernard's eastern force camped here on January 16 before its failed attack on Captain Jack's Stronghold, and Major Edwin Mason's larger force camped here in April. Lt. William L. Sherwood was killed after walking west of the fortifications to meet Modocs under a truce flag. Troops built small loose-rock forts on lava ridges and humps nearby, and at least 16 can still be identified. Mason advanced from this camp for the second attack, which led to the Army occupying the Stronghold. The camp was broken up soon afterward. A paved road crosses the area, and earth removal south of it has damaged the historic scene.
Significance in brief: The Modoc War was the only major Indian war fought in California, and Hospital Rock was the base of operations for the Army's eastern force in attacks on Captain Jack's Stronghold. Troops camped here in January and April 1873, and Lt. William L. Sherwood was killed nearby. At least 16 rock fortifications remain identifiable.
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 73000227, listed October 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Tulelake, Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake |
|---|---|
| County | Siskiyou County |
| Listed | October 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000227 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1873 |
| Areas of significance | Native American, Conservation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent and altered; the property is unoccupied, publicly owned and open to the public. Earth removal south of the paved road has damaged the historic scene. |
| Acreage | 2200 |
| Coordinates | 41.82878, -121.47634 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 73000227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q67123998
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.