Explore California's Past with the free Historian Passport

This summer, Californians have a unique opportunity to explore some of the state's most important historic places for free. 

To celebrate both Juneteenth and Independence Day, California State Parks is offering a special edition Historian Passport available to download at no cost from June 15 through July 6, 2026. The passport can be used beginning June 19 and remains valid through December 31, 2026. This offer is made possible by California State Parks Foundation and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. California State Parks Foundation sees this effort as one way to help ensure cost is not a barrier to connecting people with these important places.  

While park fees remain an important part of supporting the park system, programs like this create meaningful opportunities for more families and communities to access parks and experience them firsthand. 

The passport provides admission for up to four people at more than 30 participating state parks and museums through December 31, 2026. From historic communities and cultural landmarks to museums and preserved sites that tell California's story, the Historian Passport offers a chance to experience history where it happened. 

Why Juneteenth to Independence Day? 

Juneteenth and Independence Day represent two important moments in American history. 

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the nation's founding ideals of liberty and self-government. 

Together, these dates invite us to reflect on both the progress that has been made and the work that continues to ensure those ideals are accessible to everyone. 

California's state parks help tell these stories through preserved buildings, museums, cultural sites, and knowledgeable park staff. Many of the parks participating in the Historian Passport program highlight stories that are often overlooked or underrepresented in traditional narratives of American history. By exploring these places, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of California's role in shaping the nation while learning about the people and communities whose stories continue to resonate today. 

Featured Parks to Explore with Your Historian Passport 

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park: A Story of Community and Opportunity 

Among the participating parks is Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, one of California's most significant historic sites. 

Founded in 1908, the town of Allensworth is the only town in California founded, financed, and governed by Black Americans. Today, the park preserves the community's historic buildings and shares the stories of the residents who worked to create new opportunities for future generations. 

Visitors can walk through restored structures and learn about the vision, determination, and resilience that helped shape this remarkable community. 

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park: Connecting California 

Railroads helped connect California's growing communities and changed how people traveled throughout the state. 

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park preserves one of California's most important railroad heritage sites. Visitors can explore historic locomotives, railcars, workshops, and exhibits that help tell the story of how railroads transformed commerce, travel, and daily life throughout California. 

The park offers a fascinating look at the technology, labor, and innovation that helped connect communities and fuel the state's development. Today, visitors can experience a working railroad environment while learning about a chapter of California history that continues to influence the state today. 

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park: Preserving Indigenous Heritage 

Long before California became a state, Indigenous peoples lived, worked, and built thriving communities throughout the region. 

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park preserves one of the largest collections of bedrock mortars in North America and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Miwok people. The park's namesake grinding rock features hundreds of mortar holes that were used for generations to process acorns and other foods. 

Visitors can explore cultural exhibits, traditional structures, and interpretive displays that highlight Indigenous lifeways, traditions, and connections to the land. The park provides a meaningful opportunity to deepen understanding of California's first peoples and the enduring legacy of Native communities across the state today. 

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park: Where California Changed Forever 

In 1848, the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill sparked one of the most significant events in California history. 

Today, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park preserves the site where the California Gold Rush began. Visitors can explore historic buildings, exhibits, and landscapes that help tell the story of how the Gold Rush transformed California and attracted people from around the world in search of opportunity. 

Looking for another way to connect with this park? California State Parks Foundation hosts monthly volunteer workdays at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park where volunteers help care for the park while learning more about its history. Learn more and sign up at calparks.org/volunteer.
 

Explore More Historic Parks Across California 

The Historian Passport is valid at more than 30 participating state parks and museums throughout California. 

Whether you're looking for a weekend road trip, a new place to explore, or an opportunity to learn something new, the Historian Passport can help you discover California's rich history one park at a time. 
 

How to Get Your Free Historian Passport 

Getting started is easy: 

• Download your free Historian Passport before July 6, 2026. 
• Receive admission for up to four people at participating locations. 
• Visit participating state parks for free through December 31, 2026. 
• Explore California's history at your own pace throughout the year. 

Complete the Survey and Share Your Experience 

As you visit participating parks, California State Parks encourages visitors to complete a short survey about their experience. Survey responses help improve future programs and provide valuable insight into how Californians connect with their state parks. 

Visitors will find a QR code on their Historian Passport that links directly to the survey. Survey responses help California State Parks understand how visitors are using the program and help inform future efforts to connect people with parks. 

Start Your Journey Through California's History 

California's history can be found in historic buildings, museums, communities, and landscapes across the state. From Indigenous cultural sites and Gold Rush landmarks to railroad heritage parks and communities like Allensworth, these places help tell the many stories that shaped California. 

Together, they offer a more complete picture of our shared history, one that recognizes both the ideals that helped shape the nation and the ongoing work to ensure those ideals are accessible to all. Through education, preservation, and interpretation, California's state parks help connect visitors with stories that bring history to life. 

This summer, the Historian Passport makes it easier than ever to explore historic parks. Download your free passport, visit participating parks, and discover the people, places, and events that continue to shape California today.