Location: County: Tulare. Nearest City: Earlimart.
Campsites, facilities: There are 15 sites for tents
or RVs up to 30 feet long. There is also a 51-site overflow area.
Piped water, fire grills, and picnic tables are provided. Rest
rooms with hot showers and a visitor center are available. A
grocery store is 12 miles away in Delano. Leashed pets are permitted.
Reservations, fees: No reservations; $10 per night,
$1 pet fee.
Contact: Phone the park at the California Department
of Parks and Recreation, San Joaquin District Office at 1-209-822-2332.
Colonel Allensworth SHP
Star Route 1, Box 148
Earlimart CA 93219
Operating hours, seasons: Call the park for information;
open all year round.
Directions: From Fresno, drive south on Highway 99
about 60 miles to Earlimart. Turn right (west) on Avenue 56 and
drive eight miles to the Highway 43 turnoff. Turn left on Highway
43 and travel south two miles to the park exit on the right.
Drive 100 yards into the park directly ahead.
Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
is the only California town to be founded, financed and governed
by African Americans. The small farming community was founded
in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth and a group of others dedicated
to improving the economic and social status of African Americans.
Uncontrollable circumstances, including a drop in the area's
water table, resulted in the town's demise. With continuing restoration
and special event the town is coming back to life as a state
historic park. A yearly rededication ceremony reaffirms the vision
of the pioneers. What you have here is the old town of Allensworth,
which has been restored as a historical park dedicated to the
African-American pioneers who founded it with Colonel Allen Allensworth,
the highest ranking army chaplain of his time. One museum is
available at the school here and another at the colonel's house
with a 30-minute movie on the history of Allensworth. Visitor
Center Tours: The park has a visitor center and tours are available
by making arrangements in advance by calling 1-805-849-3433.
The visitor center also features a video presentation, "The
Spirit of Allensworth", which is available for viewing from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., any the week. The most important building,
historically and in the memory of Allensworth pioneers, is the
schoolhouse. It was in use until 1972 and is furnished as it
would have been on a school day in 1915. An audio presentation
available on site. Audio presentations are also available at
Grosse's Drug Store, and the Singleton General Store and Post
Office. Also important to the education of Allensworth's citizens
was the Mary Dickenson Memorial Library, about 200 yards north
of the school. Colonel Allensworth's residence furnished in the
1912 period. It contains items from the colonel's life in the
service and the ministry. A small display of farm equipment is
a reminder of the Allensworth economic base.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
