Historical Timeline
Prehistoric times
Before any fort was built, the Tejon Pass area was a natural corridor for Native peoples like the Kitanemuk and Yokuts. They hunted in the rolling hills, traded along the ancient trails, and lived near springs and oak groves.
1772
Spanish explorer Pedro Fages, one of the earliest Europeans to pass through the area, later gave the region its name. The nearby Tejon Canyon (meaning “badger” in Spanish) was named after the region.
1854
Fort Tejon was established by the U.S. Army to protect settlers, mail routes, and ranches from raiding and to keep peace between Native groups and new arrivals. It was one of the earliest Army posts in California’s interior.
1854–1864
Fort Tejon operated as a frontier outpost. Soldiers lived in simple adobe and wooden buildings and patrolled the region on horseback. The fort also oversaw a military experiment—the U.S. Camel Corps. A handful of camels were brought in to test their usefulness in desert transport. Though the camels proved capable, the experiment didn’t last.
1857
The Fort Tejon earthquake struck on January 9. With an estimated magnitude of 7.9, it remains one of the largest earthquakes in California’s history. The epicenter was near the San Andreas Fault, not far from the fort, and the shaking was felt as far north as San Francisco.
1861
When the Civil War broke out, most U.S. Army troops were withdrawn from California. Fort Tejon was briefly used by California volunteer units but never regained its earlier importance.
1864
The Army abandoned Fort Tejon. Buildings fell into disrepair, and the site mainly became quiet, used for ranching and grazing.
1930s
Interest in preserving California’s early military history grew. Restoration efforts began, and Fort Tejon became a California State Historic Park.
Today
Fort Tejon is a quiet, scenic park in oak woodlands near Lebec, just off Interstate 5. A few restored buildings remain, including the barracks and officers’ quarters. Reenactments, educational programs, and exhibits help visitors step back in time to the era of frontier California, before freeways and fast food replaced mules and mess halls.