JR Long and his Portable Museum

Provided.

JR Long.

JR Long, owner of Tehachapi Signs, has been keeping up with numerous projects in town.

He recently finished revitalizing the Downtown water wower's Tehachapi emblem, which now stands proud and vibrant among the city shops and Railroad Park. He has been assisting the Chamber with merchandise orders and banner design, and is creating steel trophies for the 2024 Thunder on the Mountain Car and Motorcycles Show set for Sept. 28.

But the most inspiring project that JR has completed is a 90-foot banner illustrating more of Tehachapi's unique history.

For weeks in 2023, JR poured over census records and documents from the Library of Congress, City of Tehachapi and Cal State Bakersfield. He talked to local historians like Charles White with the Tehachapi Heritage League and learned about the cowboys and cowgirls that rode across the land. He even found historic cattle books with images of brands that were used to identify cattle from the myriad of ranches across Tehachapi. More than 300 hours later, JR had completed a banner that told a different tale of Tehachapi from the years 1863, before Tehachapi was incorporated, to 1966.

Provided.

Section of the banner created by JR Long.

When JR started his research, he was immediately captivated by the depth and richness of its history. His passion for the project grew as he learned more and the result is inspiring.

Come see this banner for yourself at the Beer Garden in Philip Marx Central Park during the Tehachapi Mountain Festival®. The banner will be seen at multiple other events hosted by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, the City of Tehachapi, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District and more.

Clare Scotti is the Executive Director of the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce.