Bakersfield in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

First Presbyterian Church

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 29, 2018

1. First Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. In 1889, First Presbyterian Church began its ministry in Kern County as Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1905 the church merged with Westminster Presbyterian; being renamed First Presbyterian Church of Bakersfield. The church acquired property on the corner of 17th and H Streets in 1909 and constructed its first sanctuary in 1913. Local architect Thomas B. Wiseman (1885-1920), an associate of the Train & Williams firm, designed the church in a Tudor-Gothic architectural style. Razed by fire in 1920, the facility was redesigned by San Francisco architect John Galen Howard (1864-1931) and construction supervised by local contractor James Marshall (1880-1956). The gothic designed structure stood until the 1952 earthquakes. A new sanctuary was designed by Los Angeles architects George B. Allison (1904-1977) and Ulysses F. Rible (1904-1982) in the Louisiana Colonial architectural style and dedicated in 1955. In 2003, the church expanded; closing G Street and extending its campus from H to F Streets between 17th Street and Truxtun Avenue. Klassen Corporation, a local construction firm, constructed additional buildings to include

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

an administration office and activity center.

Erected 2015 by Kern County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 35° 22.444′ N, 119° 1.313′ W. Marker is in Bakersfield, California, in Kern County. It is at the intersection of 17th Street and H Street, on the left when traveling west on 17th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1705 17th Street, Bakersfield CA 93301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alphonse Weill Residence

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 29, 2018

2. First Presbyterian Church Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); United States Post Office (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bakersfield Californian (about 500 feet away); Padre Hotel (about 500 feet away); Kern County Courthouse (about 700 feet away); Kern County Hall of Records (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crites Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonel Thomas Baker (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bakersfield.

First Presbyterian Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 29, 2018

3. First Presbyterian Church and Marker

First Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, April 29, 2018

4. First Presbyterian Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,112 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 15, 2025, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.