Vasquez Rocks
Encyclopedia
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 905-acre (3 km²) northern Los Angeles County
, California
, USA
park acquired by the Los Angeles County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce
vicinity between the Antelope Valley
and the Santa Clarita Valley
just north of Los Angeles
and can be seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway (CA 14).
were formed by action of the San Andreas Fault
. In 1873 and 1874 Tiburcio Vásquez
, one of California's most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature.
Vasquez Rocks was added to the National Register of Historic Places
(site #72000228) in 1972 due to its significance as a prehistoric site for the Shoshone
and Tataviam
peoples.
series and in moving and still photography advertisements, and continue to be used in them today. The triangular rock summit can be clearly seen in, for example, an Outer Limits
episode called "The Zanti Misfits", in "Arena", an original series Star Trek
episode where Captain Kirk rolls a boulder onto an alien of reptiloid origin called a Gorn
, and throughout a Bonanza
episode called "Between Heaven and Earth". The prominent rock formation has been nicknamed "Kirk's Rock" due to being featured in several Star Trek episodes, each time representing a different planet. The Vasquez Rocks were also used prominently throughout all three seasons of the science-fiction television series Roswell
as something of an important location for the main characters and their story. The area is also featured as the location of the Command Center
for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
throughout Power Rangers Turbo. Also featured in the movie Paul
, and in the 2009 "South by Southwest" episode of NCIS.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
park acquired by the Los Angeles County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce
Agua Dulce, California
Agua Dulce is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2,526 feet . Agua Dulce is located just north of Santa Clarita. The town has a population of about 4,000. It is located at and covers a geographic area of about...
vicinity between the Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
The Antelope Valley in California, United States, is located in northern Los Angeles County and the southeastern portion of Kern County, California, and constitutes the western tip of the Mojave Desert...
and the Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the Rancho San Francisco Mexican land grant...
just north of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and can be seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway (CA 14).
History
These rock formationsRock formations in the United States
The following is a partial list of rock formations in the United States, by state:-Arizona:*Canyon de Chelly National Monument**Spider Rock*Chiricahua National Monument**Duck on a Rock**Organ Pipe**Mushroom Rock**Sea Captain*Monument Valley...
were formed by action of the San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
. In 1873 and 1874 Tiburcio Vásquez
Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio bandit who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are named for him.-Early life:...
, one of California's most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature.
Vasquez Rocks was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(site #72000228) in 1972 due to its significance as a prehistoric site for the Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
and Tataviam
Tataviam
The Tataviam , were called the Alliklik by their neighbors the Chumash , are a Native American group in southern California...
peoples.
Role in entertainment
Vasquez Rocks have been used innumerable times in motion pictures, various televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series and in moving and still photography advertisements, and continue to be used in them today. The triangular rock summit can be clearly seen in, for example, an Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1965. The series is similar in style to the earlier The Twilight Zone, but with a greater emphasis on science fiction, rather than fantasy stories...
episode called "The Zanti Misfits", in "Arena", an original series Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
episode where Captain Kirk rolls a boulder onto an alien of reptiloid origin called a Gorn
Gorn
In Star Trek, the Gorn are humanoid reptiles from the Gorn Hegemony.-Fictional history:The Gorn had contact with the Orion Syndicate as early as 2154...
, and throughout a Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
episode called "Between Heaven and Earth". The prominent rock formation has been nicknamed "Kirk's Rock" due to being featured in several Star Trek episodes, each time representing a different planet. The Vasquez Rocks were also used prominently throughout all three seasons of the science-fiction television series Roswell
Roswell (TV series)
Roswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
as something of an important location for the main characters and their story. The area is also featured as the location of the Command Center
Power Chamber
The Command Center, later called the Power Chamber, is the fictional headquarters for the Power Rangers in the television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and its sequels up to Power Rangers Turbo....
for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is an American live-action children's television series based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months...
throughout Power Rangers Turbo. Also featured in the movie Paul
Paul
Paul may refer to:*Paul , a given name or surname -Christianity:*Paul the Apostle Paul may refer to:*Paul (name), a given name or surname (includes a list of people with that name)-Christianity:*Paul the Apostle Paul may refer to:*Paul (name), a given name or surname (includes a list of people with...
, and in the 2009 "South by Southwest" episode of NCIS.
External links
- Official Vasquez Rocks County Park website
- Vasquez Rocks (television use in Bonanza and Star Trek) - also see its following page
- Movie Sites.org - Vasquez Rocks
- Maps & Weather - Unearthed Outdoors
- Los Angeles Orienteering Club - Orienteering Events