Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Tucked into Tulare County's agricultural flatlands, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park preserves something unique in California history: the only town in the state founded, financed, and governed entirely by African Americans. The community took shape in 1908 under the leadership of Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth alongside four collaborators — educator William Payne, minister William Peck, miner John W. Palmer, and real estate agent Harry A. Mitchell — all united by a shared goal of advancing the economic and social standing of African Americans through an independent, self-sustaining farming community.

Today the park operates as a California state park unit dedicated to interpreting that founding vision. Visitors encounter a restored historic townsite where the story of this remarkable settlement is told through preserved and reconstructed structures and interpretive programs.

The park sits on flat, open terrain in the San Joaquin Valley and is accessible year-round, though summers can bring intense heat at this low-elevation location. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring the grounds. Photography and sightseeing are the primary draws for visitors making the trip out to this historically significant and often overlooked destination.