Modoc National Forest - History & Culture

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Forest Service

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Modoc National Forest

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Historic Photos of Modoc Lookouts & Guard Stations

Photo Gallery

Title:	Sugar Hill Lookout
Date:	circa 1931
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Warner Mountain Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	Sugar Hill was one of the first lookouts to use the modern steel tower to support a "cab" on top.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	92.88kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Historic Photo of Sugar Hill Lookout on it's steel tower.

Title:	Round Mountain Lookout
Date:	Unknown
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Big Valley Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Photographer Unknown
Description:	Round Mountain is one of the lookouts on the Modoc NF that has been in use since the early 1900's. Updated many times over the years, it is shown here after a new, green paint job.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	666.20kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Round Mountain after a new green paint job.

Title:	Happy Camp Lookout
Date:	2004
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Devil's Garden Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Photographer Unknown
Description:	Happy Camp Lookout is an example of modern design and technology for a lookout.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	944.68kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A clean modern lookout building now serves Happy Camp Mountain.

Title:	Willow Creek Guard Station
Date:	circa 1930-1934
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Big Valley Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	A Forest Guard manned the guard station and would put out the alert when the lookouts spotted a forest fire. In the early days, the guard would travel on horseback or part way by automobile and walk to the fire carrying a few gallons of water and hand tools.
Source:	U S Forest Service
File Size:	989.22kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Tiny old building with a Model T out in front.

Title:	Wood Lookout with rock foundation
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:
Description:	Some lookouts were sited on top of peaks or mountains with views of 180 degrees or more and needed no towers.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	827.29kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Glass windows surround a small wood building on top of a peak.

Title:	Blue Mountain Lookout Today
Date:	June 2011
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Devil's Garden Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Barbara Torres
Description:	Blue Mountain Lookout is still an important tool for wildfire detection and reporting.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	79.48kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A current color photo of the metal tower at Blue Mountain.

Title:	Two Men in a Tree Lookout
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	There's room for two at the top of this tree lookout.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	1021.57kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Two men stand by an American flag flying above a small platform in a tree lookout.

Title:	Blue Mountain Lookout
Date:	circa 1946 - 1950
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Devil's Garden Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	Blue Mountain is one of the earliest steel constructed lookout towers on the Modoc.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	994.01kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A man stands on the landing high up in a modern steel constructed lookout tower.

Title:	Camp Fire Permit Sign
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	The Forest Service in California has been requiring campfire permits for almost 100 years. The man is hanging a sign that says, "CAMP FIRE PERMITS REQUIRED IN ALL CALIFORNIA NATIONAL FORESTS"
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	994.02kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A man has his picture taken hanging a Camp Fire Permit sign in front of a Forest Service Guard Stati

Title:	Tourists Visit a Lookout
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	Lookouts have always facinated people from all walks of life. Each year thousands of people all over the US drive, hike and ride horses to the top of peaks to see a Forest Service Lookout. In a 1952 inspection report for Happy Camp Lookout the inspector wrote, "Further emphasis is needed with lookouts to impress upon them the importance of not being distracted from the detection job by visitors."
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	710.66kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A group of people smile for the camera in front of an old wooden lookout in the 1920's.

Title:	Tree Lookout
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	Hastily and cheaply constructed, this tree lookout did the job in it's day. Note the man standing at the top.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	799.13kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A man stands on a small platform at the top of a leaning Ponderosa pine tree.

Title:	Stringing Phone Wires
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	Telephone wires connected the lookouts to the guard stations and to the forest headquarters. Forest Service employees installed these wires and maintained them for many years.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	892.33kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

Man on pole strings wire with man on the ground looking on.

Title:	Early view from Round Mountain Lookout
Date:	April 1934
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Big Valley Ranger District, Modoc National Forest.
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:	View of the forest from the Round Mountain Lookout in Spring 1934.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	1793.07kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A panorama view of the forest from the Round Mountain Lookout

Title:	Round Mountain Lookout
Date:	circa 1918-1924
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Big Valley Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Leland Smith, from the Modoc NF History Archive
Description:
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	390.20kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

A historical photo of Round Mountain Lookout.

Title:	Lookout - Happy Camp
Date:	2002
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Devil's Garden Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Photographer Unknown
Description:	Happy Camp Lookout
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	740.87kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

The glass enclosed lookout at Happy Camp sits atop a tall peak.

Title:	The flag over Happy Camp Fire Lookout
Date:	unknown
Forest Name:	Modoc National Forest
Location:	Devil's Garden Ranger District, Modoc National Forest
Credit:	Photographer Unknown
Description:	Fire lookouts still play a major role in fire prevention on forests and grasslands all over the US. You can visit this and other lookouts on the Modoc National Forest. See info on our Home page.
Source:	US Forest Service
File Size:	622.68kb
Download:	jpg (Right click and 'Save As')

An American flag waves from the narrow poorch around the Happy Camp Lookout

Modoc National Forest

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