Archaeology, History and Museums

New Additions:


Publications in Cultural Heritage: Investigations at Carrizo Creek Stage Station
Archaeological Investigations at the 19th Century River Station in LASHP
Museum Collections Management Handbook, Volume II: Practices & Procedures
California History Plan: Telling the Stories of the Californians - Part I
California History Plan: Telling the Stories of the Californians - Part II
Guidelines for Writing a Scope of Collections Statement


Go to Cultural Resource Management in California State Parks Page
Cultural Resource Management in California State Parks
California State Parks is the steward of many of California's most significant cultural treasures. Whether preserving historic structures, archival documents, shipwrecks, gold rush towns, ancient villages or museum collections, the job of managing heritage resources can be described in three steps.


Go to Cultural California Page
Cultural California
California's wealth lies in the diversity of its land and people. Our cultural heritage is derived from at least 300 indigenous tribal groups and explorers and immigrants from many continents, including '49ers seeking gold and settlers seeking a new life. There were many reasons why people chose to come to this part of the world, but all brought their skills and dreams.


National Park Service
Cultural Landscapes Planning and Stewardship
California State Parks and the National Park Service (NPS) have signed an agreement to create a Cultural Landscapes Planning and Stewardship Program. In this program, the NPS is providing technical assistance to help develop cultural landscape management and treatment plans.
Historic Building Condition Assessment
Historic Cemetery Assessment
Historic Orchard Assessment


Go to Archaeological Resources Page
Archaeological Resources
California's long human occupation of over 12,000 years has created tens of thousands of archaeological sites, representing villages, hunting, gathering and fishing areas, religious and ceremonial locations, trails and rock art sites. The cultural complexity of ancient California is unmatched in North America.
Historical Archaeology 
Rock Art        
Underwater Archaeology


Go to Cultural Landscapes Page
Cultural Landscapes
Cultural landscapes portray how humans have used and adapted natural resources over time, whether through agricultural, mining, ranching and settlement activities, or traditional Native American cultural practices.


Go to The Built Environment Page
The Built Environment
The built environment includes an array of historic buildings, structures, and objects all, serving as physical connections to the past, reflecting the history and impact of California's diverse cultures.


Go to Museum Collections Page
Museum Collections
California State Parks is responsible for the management of over one million museum objects, two million archaeological specimens, and more than three million archival documents throughout the state in more than 140 different parks.


Public Notice

Use this link to view the E-Museum

Featured Links:

California Archaeology

California History
Articles Online

The Missions Trail

CCC in State Parks

State Prehistoric Artifact:
Chipped Stone Bear

Tribal Liaison

California Indian
Heritage Center Project

Culturally Speaking Newsletter:
Spring 2013 Vol 3 Issue 1
Summer 2012 Vol 2  Issue 2
Spring 2012 Vol 2 Issue 1
Winter 2011 Vol 1 Issue 2
Fall 2011 Vol 1 Issue 1

Use this link to visit our Marsh Creek website
Written On The Land:
10,000 Years Of Human
History Along Marsh Creek

Index to Historic and
Archaeological Resources
in California State Parks

Cultural Preserves

Cultural Heritage Publications:

Archaeology and History
in Año Nuevo State Park

Human History of
Red Rock Canyon

CA-NEV-13H  Locus F and G
Donner Memorial SP

Permit to Conduct
Archaeological
Investigations on State
Parks Land (DPR-412A)

State Archaeological
Collections Research
Facility (SACRF)

Field Work and Research Information

Climate Change and Cultural Resources

Colorado Desert District
 Archaeological Site
Stewardship Program

California's State Underwater Parks

History of State Parks Capitol Exhibit

General Information:

California State Parks    
P.O. Box 942896    
Sacramento, CA 94296

For information call: 
(800) 777-0369 
(916) 653-6995

Outside the U.S.
711, TTY Relay Service