Celebrate African American History
in the Southwest
Celebrate African American History Month. From California to New Mexico, visit these African American heritage destinations across the Southwest

Colonel Allensworth State Historical Park, CA: Col. Allen Allensworth was a former slave and military hero – the Union army’s highest ranking black soldier – when he founded the colony of Allensworth in 1908. He dreamed it would be a utopian community where African-Americans would achieve independence and self-sufficiency. The village thrived until a poor water supply and Allensworth’s death in a Southern California traffic accident caused it to slowly die. Today, many of the town’s buildings have been rebuilt to their original specifications. The Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is a center for historical, cultural and interpretative black studies. Annual events, such as the Old Time Jubilee in May; Juneteenth in June; Founders Day in August and Rededication in October, attract thousands of visitors from all over the state and nation. Allensworth is about 50 miles southwest of Visalia. Photo pictured, courtesy of Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more about Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, call (661) 849-3433 or Click here.

Fort Bayard, New Mexico: Fort Bayard played an integral role in protecting settlers and miners in the Los Pinos and Silver City mining districts. Copper, silver, and gold mining spurred economic development of this region of southwestern New Mexico. Soldiers from the fort battled many of the most famous apache war leaders, including Victorio, Nana, and Geronimo. The first all-black regular army units made up of enlisted personnel, referred to as Buffalo soldiers, were organized in 1866, in the close of the Civil War. Fort Bayard was home to Native American Indian Scouts and several Buffalo Soldiers, including William Cathay (a.k.a. Cathay Williams), who was the only known female Buffalo Soldier. The hundreds of black soldiers fought Apaches with distinction, and participated in the chase for Geronimo whose capture by Brig. Gen. Nelson A. Miles in 1886, effectively ended the Apache wars. Photo pictured is by Bob Pelham, courtesy Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors center. For more about Fort Bayard – Click here.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, CA: On the night of July 17, 1944, residents in the San Francisco area were jolted awake by a massive explosion that lit up the sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine 40 miles east of San Francisco, 320 men were instantly killed when the ammunition ships they were loading with ammunition and bombs for the Pacific Rim troops mysteriously blew up. It was the largest homeland disaster during World War II. Everyone within 1,000 feet of the loading dock perished; Sailors, Marines, Navy Armed Guard, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Marines, and working civilians. Over 200 of the deaths were young African American enlisted sailors working for a segregated military. The explosion and its aftermath led to the largest Naval mutiny trial and was one of the catalysts to persuade the U.S. Armed Services to desegregate following the war. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED TO VISIT THIS SITE (925) 838-0249. For more about Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial – Click here.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA:
These parks are home to giants - immense mountains, deep canyons, huge trees, and legendary personalities. In 1903, Acting Superintendent Charles Young, the first African American park superintendent in the national park system, made highly significant contributions to the protection and development of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks. He and his command of African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” were the driving force in completing the first road into Sequoia Park. He also negotiated with landowners for the government purchase of privately owned lands within the parks’ boundaries. At the time of his appointment as superintendent, he was the third African American to graduate from West Point, and the only one actively commissioned. For more about Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks – Click here.