California Offers Free Passport to More Than 30 State Historic Parks

A free pass to California’s historic state parks is available but time, as they say, is ticking.

The state is offering a special edition Historian Passport free to download through the Fourth of July weekend. The passport, which usually costs $50, is good for the remainder of 2026.

The deal celebrates Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, state officials said. Each passport covers admission for up to four people and is good at more than 30 state historic parks.

“California doesn’t hide from hard truths and uncomfortable history – in fact, we embrace it and learn from it. While (President Donald) 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,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a news release.

State residents can download the free pass at this link.

“I hope the free Historian Passport introduces more Californians to the state’s historic gems and sparks a curiosity, thirst for knowledge and sense of belonging that leads to many return visits,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

A Look at Four of the Parks

Here are some of the parks that passholders can access:

At Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, visitors can explore a California town founded, financed, and governed by African Americans. Established in 1908 in Tulare County by Colonel Allen Allensworth and a group of Black pioneers, the state historic park stands as a powerful symbol of self-determination, opportunity and freedom, making it especially meaningful during Juneteenth commemorations.

At Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, visitors can view what is thought to be the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America and one of the largest ceremonial roundhouse still used by Native Americans in California. Within the park, the Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum features a variety of exhibits and an outstanding collection of artifacts from tribes throughout the region.

At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, visitors can see the site where gold was discovered in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush that dramatically transformed the state and nation. Visitors also learn the complex history of how the Gold Rush accelerated westward expansion, drawing people from around the world in pursuit of new opportunity, while acknowledging the hard history of violence toward and resilience of California Native Americans.

At Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, visitors can experience the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. Built in the heart of a Gold Rush-era Chinese American community, the site reflects the enduring contributions, traditions and resilience of Chinese immigrants who helped build California despite widespread discrimination and exclusion.

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