Fort Tejon State Historic Park

01/29/2026

Come join us for some "time traveling" this weekend! Guided tours available at 11a.m. and 1:30p.m. starting in front of the visitor center.

11/07/2025

Fort Tejon offers free tours of the park to schools. learn about life on a California 1850’s U.S. Army frontier outpost. Guided tours end with a bang by firing the mountain howitzer cannon. For a State Park Interpreter guided tour, book a reservation at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20283960&appointmentType=51966506 and for self-guided tour with no staff https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20283960&appointmentType=51969750 Learn more about our school programs on our official website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31179

10/29/2025

Interpreter Mike know that strong winds, warm temperatures, and dry air is the mark of the Santa Ana winds. During this time, everyone is hyper aware of the risk of fire. 🔥 Remember, if your vehicle is experiencing issues while traversing the I-5 Grapevine, pull over to the side or use a turn out but Stay On the Pavement. Also, make sure not to drag any tow chains or metal. Help preserve our history by doing your part to prevent fires. If you feel like taking a stop and cooling off, Fort Tejon is the perfect place for a picnic stop or to stretch your feet.

10/29/2025

10/08/2025

As a fall storm blows through the pass, winds pick up. The 31 star flag stands proud on the parade grounds. Taking down the flag in 30 mph winds is a truly herculean feat.

10/04/2025

Frontier Army Days is off to a start today from 10-3. Frontier army chores. Come visit Interpreter Callista at the “laundromat” and candle making station. Also on display, blacksmiths demonstrating their trade, military formation drills and volunteer Winifred working in the kitchen over the hearth cooking the lunchtime meal and letting visitors churn butter and sample fresh cream butter. Don’t forget the mountain howitzer cannon talk & demonstration at 12. Parking is $6, all the activities free. If it looks like fun, talk to Interpreters Mike or Callista to learn how to volunteer.

10/04/2025

TODAY! Frontier Army Days- October 4th from 10-3pm. Come join us for a trip back in time to 1856 at Fort Tejon State Historic Park. Experience the life and times of Dragoon soldiers, as well as Civilians. See a mountain howitzer cannon demonstration and volunteers and staff dressed up as if they just stepped out of a photograph. Event is free. Parking is $6 per vehicle, free with a 4th grade Adventure pass.

10/02/2025

Annie Gardiner, wife of William Gardiner who was Captain of Company A stationed at Fort Tejon wrote of the area: The valley... coming in here is beautiful, and I cannot describe Fort Tejon better than by quoting from Mr. Kirkham who said in writing to his sister that she might imagine herself at the bottom of a bowl, the hills all around forming the sides for they seem to completely shut us in.

Come visit Tejon in the mountains. This Saturday is Frontier Army days from 10-3pm with live canon demonstrations at noon and volunteers dressed up as if they stepped out of a daguerreotype (the first type of photograph).

09/30/2025

These deer had no idea a 70- 4th graders were about to descend on the park for a guided school tour. Their blissful, carefree morning was about to be shattered.
Fort Tejon State Historic Park offers self-guided and guided school tours.

Self-Guided Tours

Self-guided school tours allow classes to enjoy the park at their own pace. Free self-guided brochures are available along with a scavenger hunt focusing on the park's historic zone. Additional information detailing the park's history and resources are available in the visitor center office. The visitor center, barracks, and officer's quarters are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are free. Reservations are required and can be booked here through our online scheduling web page.

Guided Tours

Guided school tours of Fort Tejon State Historic Park usually lasts 2.5 hours. The tour begins with a brief orientation about the fort's history in the visitor center. Next, the students assemble on the parade ground for an 1850s basic military drill where they raise the historic garrison flag per army regulations of the period. The students will tour the historic places of the park to experience a picture of life on the frontier of California through the lens of a frontier army post. This includes going "behind the scenes" in areas of the historic buildings that are usually partitioned off as museum display space. Afterwards, your class may have lunch in the park in the shade of majestic Valley oak trees before departing. Guided school tours are limited to 60 people per tour. This is due in part to staff/student ratios and capacity restrictions for our program spaces. Guided tours are free. Reservations are required and can be booked here through our online scheduling web page. For more information, please contact Michael Deagon via email or phone (661) 248-6692.

09/29/2025

Frontier Army Days- October 4th from 10-3pm. Come join us for a trip back in time to 1856 at Fort Tejon State Historic Park. Experience the life and times of Dragoon soldiers, as well as Civilians. See a mountain howitzer cannon demonstration and volunteers and staff dressed up as if they just stepped out of a photograph. Event is free. Parking is $6 per vehicle, free with a 4th grade Adventure pass.