Fort Tejon facts for kids
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Fort Tejon
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Fort Tejon Barracks
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| Nearest city | Lebec, California |
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| Built | 1854 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000140 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 1971 |
Fort Tejon in California was an important United States Army outpost. It was active from 1854 to 1864. You can find it in the Grapevine Canyon. This area is between the San Emigdio Mountains and Tehachapi Mountains.
The fort is located near Tejon Pass along Interstate 5 in Kern County, California. This route is the main way through the mountains. It connects the Central Valley with the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California. The fort's location helped protect the San Joaquin Valley from dangers coming from the south and west.
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Why Fort Tejon Was Built
The main goal of Fort Tejon was to keep the peace. Soldiers protected settlers from people who might steal their animals. They also guarded against attacks from some Native American tribes, like the Paiute and Mojave.
The fort also watched over the Emigdiano people. These people were related to the Chumash tribe. They lived in villages near Fort Tejon. After earlier Spanish and Mexican rule, the Emigdiano usually worked well with the American settlers and the U.S. Army.
History of Fort Tejon
Fort Tejon was built in 1854. This happened because Edward Fitzgerald Beale, who was in charge of Indian Affairs in California, suggested it. The fort was the main base for the First U.S. Dragoons. These were regular army soldiers.
In July 1861, the Dragoons moved east. This was because the American Civil War had started. California volunteer troops took over the fort in 1863. These included soldiers from the 2nd California Volunteer Cavalry and Infantry. Fort Tejon was finally closed for good on September 11, 1864.
The fort was on the Stockton - Los Angeles Road. This was a major travel route. From 1858, it became a stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach service. This service followed the same route as far as Visalia.
Fort Tejon was also the starting point for an interesting experiment. From 1858, it was the western base for the U.S. Camel Corps. This group tried using imported camels to carry supplies. They hoped camels would be good for traveling across dry areas in the Southwest. Soldiers found the camels tough, but they could be difficult. Also, the camels sometimes scared the horses used by the cavalry.
Fort Tejon State Historic Park
Today, Fort Tejon is a state historic park. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1940, the Tejon Ranch Company gave 5 acres of land to California. This allowed the state to create the park.
The park has several original historic buildings. Some have been restored, and visitors can explore parts of them. The restored barracks show how soldiers lived. They have displays of old uniforms and a recreated troopers' room. The commanding officer's quarters also have restored and furnished rooms. Other officers' quarters are kept from falling apart. Their walls are supported by stone and wood.
A quartermaster building has been rebuilt. It holds items used by the Dragoons and for Civil War reenactments. The spots where other buildings once stood are marked by fences. These fences show the outlines of their old foundations. A park office is at the east end of the parade ground. It has exhibits about dragoon life and restrooms.
The park grounds also have natural attractions. You can see very old valley oak trees. Sometimes, you might even spot California condors flying overhead. The park also has the grave site of Peter Lebeck, marked with a historical sign. The nearby town of Lebec is named after him.
The Fort Tejon Historical Association often holds Civil War reenactments at the park. These events help visitors imagine what life was like at the fort long ago.
The 1857 Fort Tejon Earthquake
The Fort Tejon earthquake happened on January 9, 1857, around 8:20 AM. This powerful earthquake caused the San Andreas Fault to break. The break stretched for about 350 kilometers (217 miles). This was between Parkfield and San Bernardino.
In some places, like the Carrizo Plain, the ground moved as much as 9 meters (30 feet). This amount of movement means the earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.9. This is similar to the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Scientists believe the earthquake started near Parkfield and Cholame. This area is about 60 miles northwest of Fort Tejon. However, the earthquake is called "Fort Tejon" because that's where the most damage was reported. Most of the area near the actual start of the earthquake was not populated at the time. The most reliable report of the event came from the fort, even though it was about 93 miles away.
