CSSDAR State Regent Susan Broderick and State Corresponding Secretary Emily Boling took a side trip on the way home from the 50th Anniversary of the California Congressional Tea. Allensworth State Park was recommended by State Librarian Debbie King and is just a short detour off of Highway 99 in Tulare County.

Founded in 1908 and named for Col. Allen Allensworth, the town of Allensworth was called the Freedom Colony. It was an entirely African American township in the Central Valley of California. Col. Allensworth had escaped slavery and risen to the rank of U.S. Army Captain after the Civil War. His dream was to help African Americans build a place where they could own property, educate their children and prosper without racism and prejudice.

The town flourished for ten years, then a series of misfortunes; a fouled and diminished water supply, the railway bypass to a nearby farming community, and the lure of better paying jobs in a less harsh environment caused the population to dwindle. In 1976, 240 acres of the original downtown district were turned into a CA State Park.

During Covid the visitors center is closed, but in non-Covid times, the schedule is limited and prior arrangement should be made. There is a self-guided tour that can be accessed by dialing a number provided and entering the site number for a narrative on the particular building. There are now over twenty restored or rebuilt buildings in the park.