Californians will soon have the opportunity to explore some of the state’s most significant historic parks at no cost.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced on June 17 that California State Parks is offering a special edition of its Historian Passport free of charge in honor of Juneteenth and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The passport, which usually costs $50 annually, grants admission to up to four people per pass at over 30 state historic parks across California.
From June 17 through July 6, Californians can download the limited-time pass for free and use it for unlimited visits at participating parks from Juneteenth through the end of this year, Governor Newsom said in a statement.
California is committed to preserving and sharing the state’s complex history, including stories that may be difficult or uncomfortable, he said.
Celebrated every year on June 19, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the end of slavery in the country. Juneteenth celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people of African descent in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom.
While Donald Trump tries to rewrite our nation’s past, California embraces and learns from it.
Through the Fourth of July weekend, get a FREE version of the @CAStateParks Historian Passport for zero-cost entry at our 30+ state historic parks for the next year. pic.twitter.com/VDNVPbMx7F
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 17, 2026
The governor contrasted California’s approach with the recent decision of the Trump administration to end free admission to national parks on Juneteenth.
“While Trump ignores and tries to rewrite the past, California is marking these celebrations of freedom by inviting everyone to learn our country’s history – our real history – for free in our state parks,” Governor Newsom said.
The program is supported by donations from the California State Parks Foundation and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, according to the governor’s office.
Among the featured destinations is Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Earlimart in Central California’s Tulare County and the “most significant state park representing Black history” in the state, according to Governor Newsom.
Established in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth and a group of Black pioneers, the park is located in a town that was founded, financed, and governed by African Americans.
Some of the other 30 participating state parks include:
- Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park in Pine Grove: Home to North America’s largest collection of bedrock mortars and California’s largest ceremonial roundhouse still used by Native Americans.
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma: Memorializes the site where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848, sparking the Gold Rush.
- Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park in Weaverville: Built in 1874 in the heart of a Gold Rush-era Chinese American community, the site features the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California.
The limited-time free Historian Passport follows a similar move announced by Governor Newsom earlier this year.
In January, the governor directed California State Parks to allow free vehicle day-use at over 200 parks across the state, defying the Trump administration’s decision to remove Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the list of free national park admission days.
The program was announced after the Trump administration removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from the new list of fee-free days at national parks, while adding President Trump’s birthday on June 14.
The special Historian Passport is part of California’s broader efforts under the Outdoors for All initiative.
Under the initiative, California residents from all walks of life, including low-income families, all fourth graders in public schools, and anyone with a library card, can access free passes to parks.
But my tax dollurs!
Trump and other right wingers are racist.