Fort Tejon Historical Association

In July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in more than 50,000 American casualties. Despite these losses, the United States gained a great victory during these three days. On October 3, 1863, with this victory in mind, as well as its cost, President Lincoln issued a proclamation:

“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, …to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving...”

This proclamation is viewed as the beginning of the national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. It was one of nine similar proclamations that Mr. Lincoln issued during the Civil War. Mr. Lincoln issued the proclamation, but he did not author it. Secretary of State William Seward penned the October 1863 proclamation.

Dear Fort Tejon/FTHA members, friends, reenactors, and visitors,
Due to administrative circumstances beyond our immediate control, the 2023 Civil War reenactment has been canceled.
We look forward to hosting it first weekend of June 2024.
Thank you all for your understanding and continued support.

Wishing you and yours a blessed Passover and a Happy Easter

Our peaceful fort ❄️💙🤍

What? Shop Amazon and donate to the Fort Tejon? Shut the front door!! Really? How?

It’s actually very easy and at NO cost to you!

All you have to do is first sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser. Choose Fort Tejon Historical Association from the charity option at the bottom of the page and you’re all set.

By starting each shopping session at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile turned ON in the Amazon Shopping app, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Fort Tejon Historical Association. It really is THAT simple.

AmazonSmile: You shop. Amazon gives.

Ballou's Pictorial Valentine's Day - 1856

It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our beloved, long-time, and award winning volunteer “Blacksmith Bill” Landis.

Bill passed away early yesterday afternoon from complications of Covid. His departure will truly be a loss for our park programs, especially Fort Tejon’s Student Living History Program. Bill has been a volunteer at the park since the mid-1980s when his interest was piqued by a visit to the post’s blacksmith shop where he made his first handmade, blacksmithed souvenir. Ever since then, blacksmithing became his forum for engaging in hilarious and great historic interpretation at Fort Tejon.

The lives of thousands of students and visiting public were wonderfully touched and inspired by Bill through the park’s programs over the decades. It will be very “big shoes to fill” for Fort Tejon to find a volunteer like Bill Landis who could masterfully offer enjoyable historic interpretation to all sorts of audiences through the medium of mid-19th century blacksmithing. He will be missed, but remains loved, by many.

Rest in peace, dear friend.