California Offers Free Access to Historic Parks Through 2026

Residents and tourists can now visit more than 30 California state historic parks and museums for free through the end of 2026 by downloading the Historian Passport. The limited-time offer, available through July 6, waives the usual $50 fee for the pass, which grants unlimited entry for up to four people to participating sites that normally charge per-person admission or vehicle day-use fees.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the initiative on Wednesday, June 17, in honor of Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The program is led by California State Parks director Armando Quintero, who expressed hope that the free pass would introduce more Californians to the state's historic gems and spark a curiosity for knowledge that leads to many return visits.

Among the participating parks in and around Los Angeles County are Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades, which features hiking trails, picnic areas and a polo field; Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino, where visitors can learn about Indigenous culture and Spanish colonization; and the Antelope Valley Indian Museum, which showcases exhibits about Indigenous cultures from the Antelope Valley, California coast, Great Basin and the Southwest.

Other notable parks accepting the pass include Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Tulare County, a restored town founded, financed and governed by African Americans in the early 1900s; Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County, which offers hiking, biking and historic buildings; and the State Indian Museum State Historic Park in Sacramento, highlighting California’s diverse Indigenous populations. A full list is available at parks.ca.gov.

The initiative is financed with support from the California State Parks Foundation and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation, said the free historian passport is a great opportunity to explore state parks and reflect on shared history. To download a pass, visit ReserveCalifornia.com, create or log into an account, select the 'Special Edition Historian Passport 2026' option, and check out—the pass will then be added to the account.