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Jastro Building
2009-0726-CA-Bakersfield-JastroBuilding.jpg
Jastro Building is located in Bakersfield, California
Jastro Building
Location in Bakersfield, California
Jastro Building is located in California
Jastro Building
Location in California
Jastro Building is located in the United States
Jastro Building
Location in the United States
Location 1800 19th St., Bakersfield, California
Area 0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built 1917
Architect Hinshaw, Everett; Currie & Dugler
Architectural style Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No. 83001182
Added to NRHP September 22, 1983

The Jastro Building, also known as the Standard Oil Building, is a very old and important office building in Bakersfield, California. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on September 22, 1983. This means it's recognized as a special place in history.

What It Looks Like

The Jastro Building is a two-story building in downtown Bakersfield. It was built in a grand style called Second Renaissance Revival architecture. This style often uses classic designs from old European buildings.

The building was constructed in two main parts. The first part was finished in 1917. A larger section, about 10,000 square feet (930 square meters), was added in 1921.

The first floor of the building is shaped like the letter "C." It has an open space at the back. The second floor is shaped like the letter "H." It has a porch that is set back into the front of the building. The main entrance is on the first floor, right below this porch.

The Jastro Building has a flat roof. It also has a decorative edge called a cornice and a low wall around the roof called a parapet. The windows are tall and narrow. They are casement windows, which means they open outwards like a door. Many of them have a small window above them called a transom. The windows on the second-story porch have fancy arches and a decorative band called a frieze.

Why This Building is Special

The Standard Oil Company became a big part of the oil industry in Kern County in 1902. They wanted to develop their oil fields near the Kern River. When the Jastro Building was finished, Standard Oil moved its main operations for Central California to Bakersfield.

This building was very important when it was built. It was the first large commercial building in downtown Bakersfield to be built across the city's G Street. This helped shape how the downtown area grew.

The Jastro Building is also special because it survived the big 1952 Kern County earthquake very well. Many buildings in the area were badly damaged. But the Jastro Building, with its strong design, remained mostly unharmed. It's one of the best examples of its architectural style still standing after the earthquake.

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