This is the ranch house of the Birdseye family, who came to the Rogue Valley in the early 1850s to homestead. Their original cabin, which sat nearer to the creek on the left, was fortified in 1855 and became known as "Fort Birdseye.” It was one of several homestead “forts” in the valley that were fortified against attacks--when troubles with the local natives broke out, settlers gathered in the fortified homestead nearest them. Fort Birdseye was used from 1855-56, though never directly attacked. The original structure was torn down after the wars.