Colonel Allen Allensworth was a strong advocate for civil rights and believed economic independence was essential for Black Americans to achieve full citizenship. At birth, Colonel Allensworth was an enslaved person who fled slavery by joining the Union Navy during the Civil War. After the Civil War, Colonel Allensworth earned a theology doctorate in 1886 and became chaplain to the 24th Infantry of the United States Army. In 1906, he eventually retired as Lieutenant Colonel and with a shared vision, founded the town of Allensworth in 1908 as a place where Black Americans could live and thrive without discrimination. The park represents a significant chapter in California’s Black American history. Today, the park preserves the legacy of the town and its residents. In 1974, the California Department of Parks and Recreation purchased land within the historic townsite of Allensworth, and it became Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.
The Visitor and Event Center Project was authorized by Governor Gavin Newson in 2022. The majority of funding will be used to construct a new Visitor and Event Center where people can learn about the Allensworth township and Black American history, enhance interpretive exhibits to improve historical accuracy and engage with the social issues Black Americans experienced in the past and today, and improve circulation, parking, and other infrastructure improvements.
To ensure effective planning and design efforts for the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, several key steps will be taken. State Parks will engage a wide range of community partners and reflect the feedback we hear in the final documents and plans. Key steps include:
California Department of Parks and Recreation