To honor two upcoming holidays, California announced Wednesday it is temporarily waiving the $50 fee for its historic park passport, which allows entry to more than 30 parks.
California residents can secure their Historian Passport by registering on the Reserve California website and requesting a pass now through July 6. Once the pass is downloaded, passholders and three guests can access an unlimited number of historic parks for free from Friday through 2026.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the promotion is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as well as the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the day around 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom years earlier.
Newsom said the limited-time deal is meant to expand access to natural and cultural resources within the state while connecting visitors to places that preserve history.
“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,” California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said.
Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesMyung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Antelope Valley Indian Museum is nestled at the foot of a butte and displays artifacts of the Great Basin peoples as well as some from the Channel Islands.
Participating historic parks include:
Anderson Marsh SHP
Colonel Allensworth SHP
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
El Presidio de Santa Barbara SHP
Bale Grist Mill SHP
Empire Mine SHP
Benicia Capitol SHP
Folsom Powerhouse SHP
Bidwell Mansion SHP
Fort Ross SHP
Bodie SHP
Fort Tejon SHP
California Citrus SHP
Indian Grinding Rock SHP
California Mining and Mineral Museum
Jack London SHP
La Purísima Mission SHP
Los Encinos SHP
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Marshall Gold Discovery SHP
Monterey SHP
Olompali SHP
Petaluma Adobe SHP
Railtown 1897 SHP
Robert Louis Stevenson SP
San Juan Bautista SHP
Shasta SHP
Sonoma SHP
State Indian Museum SHP
Sutter’s Fort SHP
Weaverville Joss House SHP
Will Rogers SHP
William B. Ide Adobe SHP
Explore other opportunities to visit California historic sites for free by visiting the California State Parks website.