Captain Jack's Stronghold
Why it's listed
Captain Jack's Stronghold is a stretch of twisted, contorted lava on the south shore of the former Tule Lake, now inside Lava Beds National Monument in Siskiyou County, California. In 1872-73 the Modoc people used its rock formations, cracks in the frozen lava and natural caves as a defensive position, adding breastworks and small rock fortifications. Army troops built their own rock fortifications during two major attacks and added more after occupying the site. About 130 fortifications have been marked so far, along with features such as the cave said to have sheltered Captain Jack's family, a war dance circle, a council ground and horse and cattle corrals. Roughly 70 Modoc men held out for five and a half months against far larger forces, repulsing an attack by 300 troops in January 1873 and withdrawing successfully after inflicting severe casualties on 650 troops in April. The site is regarded as symbolizing the Modoc War and the tribe's last major stand.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1872-73 |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Native American, Military |
| Acreage | 460 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Captain Jack's Stronghold (property record) |
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.