Forum: California State Historic Parks

Forum: California State Historic Parks

Check out the California State Parks Historic Sites Visitor Information Guide website and review at least 3 of the parks that are of interest to you.

“California is famous for its natural beauty but it also has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The state was shaped by the experiences, cultures, and interactions of a wide range of people, including California Native American tribes, Spanish colonists, Russian merchants, citizens of the new Mexican republic, Americans who claimed this land after war with Mexico, Chinese railroad workers who connected the east and west coasts, and immigrants from all over the world coming for the gold in the Sierras or for tech jobs in Silicon Valley. Californias state historic parks help to preserve much of this diverse heritage, educate the public, and make the states past accessible to Californians of all backgrounds.

Californias state historic parks include:

• Sites and educational programs that integrate the stories and culture of the states Indigenous people, which are made up of over 150 distinct California Native American tribes, who speak at least 64 different languages.
• Missions, a presidio, and parts of pueblos and rancherias that preserve the heritage of Californias Spanish and Mexican history.
• Places connected to the California Gold Rush, including the spot where, in 1848, James W. Marshall found shining flecks of gold that changed the course of California’s and the nation’s history.
• Parks that preserve and commemorate the contributions of communities of color to Californias history, including the States oldest Chinese temple, the Weaverville Joss House, or the free black community that established what is now Colonel Allensworth SHP.
• The historic mansions of some of Californias most influential families and the buildings erected for the states first democratically elected legislatures.
• A state railroad museum that houses 21 lavishly restored locomotives and train cars that were instrumental in connecting California to the rest of the nation, as well as the park that provided historic trains for many beloved movie productions.
• Sites connected to Californias rise as an economic powerhouse, from powerful sites like the states largest hydraulic gold mine or one of the nations first power systems to provide high-voltage alternating current, to intimate sites, such as the spot where the states first Navel orange tree was planted.

Post a 300 minimum word commentary for each of the 3 parks that briefly describes the park and what is of interest to you, and why.

Why do you think others may benefit from visiting/learning more about that park in the context of California’s history?

How can field trips to these places enhance the experience for students in K-12 schools?

Reply to at least 3 classmates’ commentaries to compare and contrast different parks and how they contribute to your understanding of California history.

Include links to the parks, but there is no need for academic references.