#36 Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is a state park in California's Central Valley. The park preserves the town of Allensworth; the only town in California to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Allen Allensworth founded the town in 1908. He was a Kentucky-born slave who escaped to become a union soldier during the Civil War. He was also the first African American reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The people of Allensworth came together to create their own American Dream: a place of freedom where they could control their own destiny.