California State Parks Celebrates 50 Years of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
Contact:
Dorian Yarnelson
Park and Recreation Specialist
661-753-6233
Moments from the 50th anniversary celebration at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on Saturday, Oct. 10. Photos from California State Parks
EARLIMART — History came alive at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on Saturday, Oct. 10, as thousands of visitors and community partners gathered to celebrate the landmark 50th anniversary of the park’s Annual Rededication Celebration and honor the extraordinary legacy of a California town founded, financed and governed by African Americans more than a century ago.
The state historic park's 50th Annual Rededication Celebration brought together descendants, community members, state leaders and history enthusiasts for a day of remembrance, reflection and festivities. From historical reenactments and tours of the town's historic buildings to live music, dancing and inspiring speeches, the celebration paid tribute to Allensworth's past while looking toward its future.
“As we celebrate this great milestone, I want to thank everyone who helped bring us to this day – the Allensworth family, the descendants of the town’s residents, and the countless community members, partners, staff, volunteers and visitors who have supported, cared for and championed this park over the last 50 years,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero as he addressed the gathering. “Thanks to your work, Allensworth's extraordinary story continues to inspire and educate new generations.”
A highlight of the main ceremony was a powerful keynote address by Anita Zachary, great-granddaughter of Lt. Col. Allen and Josephine Allensworth, whose family legacy remains deeply connected to the town's history.
“A group of Black families, in 1908, decided to build a town, finance it, and govern it themselves — at a time when nearly everything in this country stood against them,” said Zachary. “What they did wasn't just impressive. It was daring. And every time this community got knocked down and got back up, that's not only Allensworth's story. That's Black resilience in this country, still being written, right here.”
The program also featured a special recorded message from Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, along with remarks from Director Quintero and other guests.
“Historical sites like this park show Californians and all Americans exactly why we choose to remember Allensworth,” said Bunch in his message. “It demonstrates how people make a way out of no way, how a group of people found hope despite their circumstances and dared to become what they wanted – which was American citizens with a place to call home. When we preserve stories like Allensworth, and when we share them, we show future generations that there's always a path forward, no matter the obstacles.”
“Fifty years after it was established, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park remains a powerful symbol of hope, determination and the vision of the people who built this remarkable community,” said California State Parks Great Basin District Superintendent Russ Dingman. “Today’s event honors the dreams of both its founders and those who sought to preserve it.”
The ceremony also included a presentation of colors by the Vietnam Veterans of America, recognition of volunteers and a commemorative tree-planting ceremony. Music and entertainment added to the festivities, with performances including the national anthem by Koumba Diallo, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Steve Loud, square and line dancing by the Inglewood Guys and Dolls, and live music by the West Coast Blues Society.
The celebration emphasized that the rededication renews California's collective commitment to preserving and educating future generations about the contributions of African Americans to the state and the nation.
Earlier in the day, participants took part in the annual Colonel Allensworth 5K Run/Walk for Health. Throughout the day, visitors had opportunities to explore the park through tours of historic and reconstructed buildings, Buffalo Soldier reenactments and visits to the historic Allensworth Cemetery.
History of Colonel Allensworth SHP
After retiring from the military as the highest-ranking African American officer of his time, Lt. Col. Allen Allensworth, a minister and teacher, came to California and joined educator William Payne, minister William Peck, miner John Palmer and realtor Harry Mitchell in establishing Allensworth in 1908. The African American people who settled in Allensworth wished to build a place of their own where they could control their own destiny and where they could achieve their full potential, free from discriminatory laws and practices of the time.
Decades later, a community-led effort helped ensure that the town’s story would be preserved. In 1969, landscape architect Ed Pope and other advocates prepared a preservation proposal that called attention to the lack of representation of the Black experience in California’s state parks. Their proposal gained the support of then-State Parks Director William Penn Mott Jr., who championed the town’s preservation and formed the Allensworth Advisory Committee with Black historians, civic leaders and former residents. By 1972, a plan had been adopted to acquire approximately 240 acres and restore key buildings. The effort ultimately led to the park’s official opening in October 1976.
Timeline and Key Dates
- 1908 – Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth and four fellow founders establish the town of Allensworth.
- 1969 – Ed Pope and other preservation advocates submit a proposal to protect the town and recognize Black contributions to California history.
- 1972 – A plan is adopted to acquire approximately 240 acres and preserve the town’s history.
- 1976 – Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park officially opens in October.
- 2026 – The park celebrates 50 years with its 50th Annual Rededication Celebration.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.