Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
State Park · Earlimart, California
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park sits on Highway 43 in Tulare County near Earlimart, in the flat, farmed southern San Joaquin Valley. It preserves the town of Allensworth, founded in 1908 and often described as the only California town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. It was named for Col. Allen Allensworth, a former slave who rose to become a military chaplain and a leader of the venture. Restored buildings, among them a schoolhouse and a library (confirm which are open and furnished), stand along quiet streets beside open ground where other buildings once stood. A visitor centre and a walking tour (confirm) tell the story, and tours and events are held at set times (confirm). The setting is flat, hot in summer and often wrapped in tule fog in winter. It rewards people who want a real story of self-reliance, and it can disappoint anyone expecting a full, busy town with shops, since much of the site is open ground and several buildings may be closed.
4011 State Hwy 43, Earlimart, California, 93219, United States
California State Parks has generally opened the park for day use during daylight hours, with the visitor centre and any building interiors on a shorter schedule - confirm days and times, because a drive out to this part of the valley is long and a closed centre is disappointing. Staffed tours and living-history or community events run on certain days or weekends and are the best way to see interiors - confirm the calendar before you go. Midsummer afternoons are very hot and can be quiet, while winter mornings can bring dense tule fog that cuts visibility on Highway 43. Some buildings may close for repair, and special events can bring larger crowds for a day.
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