We asked local historian Terry Ommen if he would write an article for us about some facet of Visalia history. Visalia is the oldest city between Los Angeles and Fish Camp (near Stockton) and was founded in 1852. California had just been admitted to the union in 1850 just after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848 (History of California) and things were pretty rough and tumble here in Visalia. Read on to see what Terry discovered about Visalia in the 1850's.
'Did You Know Visalia Had A Fort?'
By: Terry Ommen, Local Historian
(January 2019)
When the first European settlers arrived here in the fall of 1852 they were concerned that the local Native Americans posed a threat. They built a log stockade for protection and it became known as Fort Visalia.
Believed to have been built somewhere on the block bounded by Garden, Bridge, Oak, and School streets, the enclosure was about 60 feet square with small extensions on each corner. It was built of oak logs that were split, placed in the ground vertically and stood side by side with the curved side of the logs facing the outer walls. The walls were about 14 feet high. Some say there was a tunnel dug under a wall which was used as the entrance/exit to the fort itself. A dozen or so families used the enclosure for security, primarily during the evening.
For an undetermined length of time settlers used the fort, but eventually decided the native people were no threat, so they left the fort and Visalia grew.
The City of Visalia owns the block on which the fort stood. I believe it is the city’s intention to sell the block. They are in the process of reviewing the historical background of the site to help determine the next course of action. Stay tuned!
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UPDATE (Nov 2025): Today, a unique housing complex has been built on the site believed to be where the fort once stood. The Lofts at Fort Visalia is now an 80-unit multifamily complex that reserves 40 units as Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units supporting formerly unhoused residents or those at risk of homelessness. Along with gallery and studio space for resident artists, the complex houses the Visalia Heritage Room, a micro-museum which offers visitors a view of historic Visalia. Photographs of the city from early days line the walls and taking center stage is a diarama that depicts what histoirians believed the fort looked like. Outside the Heritage Room are educational plaques that provide additional information about how Visalia was formed.
More information: If you want to learn more about this site and other historic Visalia locations of note take our self-guided Visalia Then and Now: An Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Visalia.
About Terry:
Terry Ommen has researched Tulare County history for something like 20 years and is considered ‘the’ Visalia historian. He has written many articles and books on local history including “Then and Now Visalia” and “Tulare County: Outlaws, Rogues & Rebels.” You can see Terry talking about Visalia history and his books by watching C-SPAN Cities Tour Visalia on ‘American History TV’ and ‘Book TV’ which aired on the C-SPAN channels Feb 2 and 3, 2019.
