Allensworth State Park

One of the more interesting stops on our trip was at Col. Allensworth State Historic Park, a few miles above Wasco, CA, originally intended as just an overnight stop for us as we traveled between Bakersfield and Yosemite (4/26/09).

It's really quite an interesting story, most of which you can read on the second and third pictures. This park commemorates the town of Allensworth, CA, built in 1908 to provide African-Americans an opportunity to achieve self-reliance and success in their own community. Unfortunately, it survived and thrived for only about ten years because its water supply suddenly disappeared, taken largely by nearby farming enterprises, and a series of failed promises to protect it.

The first place we were in in the town was the town library, originally the town school (number two, it first met in someone's home) but converted to the library when a shiny new school was built in 1912 (see picture #4). Obviously education was a very high priority in the community, second to none.

The California State Park system has done a very good job restoring many of the original buildings, making a nice campground for visitors and providing a full-time ranger for tours and so forth. Here she is with Clara for our personal tour – on a Sunday morning at 9 a.m. no less.

Perhaps the most intriguing facet of the park is its anonymity among California residents – we haven't yet spoken to one who has ever heard of this historic place, even some who have lived in that area for more than 40 years!