Wilmington in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Drum Barracks

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Drum Barracks Marker

Inscription. Established at Wilmington in 1862, Drum Barracks became the United States military headquarters for Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. A garrison and base for supplies, it was a terminus for camel pack trains operated by the army until 1863. Abandoned in 1866, its site remains a landmark of the Civil War in California.

Erected 1965 by California State Park Commission in cooperation with the California History Commission. (Marker Number 169.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Notable Places • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 33° 47.067′ N, 118° 15.447′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Wilmington. It can be reached from Cary Avenue north of East Opp Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located below the porch on the east (Cary Avenue) side of the Drum Barracks Museum whose main entrance is off North Banning Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1052 North Banning Boulevard, Wilmington CA 90744, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

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 one mile of this marker, measured as the crow

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flies: A different marker also named Drum Barracks (a few steps from this marker); Powder Magazine at the Drum Barracks (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Banning Residence Museum (approx. 0.3 miles away); Memory Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Banning Residence Museum (approx. half a mile away); Wilmington Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. one mile away); Der Wienerschnitzel (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

2. Drum Barracks Marker

The Drum Barracks Camel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

3. The Drum Barracks Camel

Commemorating the U.S. Army's experimental "camel corps".

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

4. Drum Barracks Marker

Drum Barracks, viewed from Cary Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

5. Drum Barracks, viewed from Cary Street

Marker visible, lower middle, on the ground in the shadow of the brick porch steps.

Drum Barracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

6. Drum Barracks

Drum Barracks Museum - view from N. Banning Blvd. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard E. Miller, December 7, 2011

7. Drum Barracks Museum - view from N. Banning Blvd.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

8. Drum Barracks

The only known photograph of an Army camel. Government Depot near Banning's Wharf. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Http://www.forttejon.org/camels.html

9. The only known photograph of an Army camel. Government Depot near Banning's Wharf.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

10. Drum Barracks

Civil War Drum Barracks - 1862 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

11. Civil War Drum Barracks - 1862

Dedicated by California State Society NSDAR District IX January 15, 1978.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

12. Drum Barracks

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 25, 2010

13. Drum Barracks

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,338 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2015, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on June 3, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on December 26, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on January 7, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on December 27, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 5. submitted on January 7, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on December 27, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 7. submitted on January 7, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 8. submitted on December 27, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 9. submitted on January 7, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on December 27, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.