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

First Baptist Church

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 13, 2018

1. First Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. The First Baptist Church was completed under the supervision of local architect Charles H. Biggar (1882 - 1946) in 1932. The building, designed in the Northern Italian Romanesque architectural style, is described in the National Register of Historic Places as "the finest remaining example of its architectural type, not only in Metropolitan Bakersfield and Kern County, but the entire southern San Joaquin Valley." In 1978 the First Baptist Church was closed at this location; the building was converted to office space and renamed Old Church Plaza.

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 1932.

Location. 35° 22.412′ N, 119° 0.953′ W. Marker is in Bakersfield, California, in Kern County. It is on Truxton Street near L Street, on the right when traveling west. The building is located on the corner of Truxten and L Streets. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 Truxton Street, Bakersfield CA 93301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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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,

in 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: Kern County Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Haberfelde Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Baker's Field (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kern County Hall of Records (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonel Thomas Baker (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kress Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kern County Courthouse (approx. ¼ mile away); Arlington House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bakersfield.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 13, 2018

2. First Baptist Church Marker

First Baptist Church Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 13, 2018

3. First Baptist Church Building

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 13, 2018

4. First Baptist Church Marker

First Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 13, 2018

5. First Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 810 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 14, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.