From my first visit I had Allensworth in my blood, and in my heart it has remained. The longer I stood in silence, the more I felt the presence of the Spirit. The more I listened; the clearer became the voices on the breeze.

Over the years, I have been blessed to be involved with projects that have nurtured a relationship with this very special place. I arrive each time with a renewed appreciation for the efforts of all the people who lived and worked here; generations of folk who faced the adversity of freedom with remarkable brilliance and resiliency.

Manifesting a great love of self they shared in an ideal and invested in the spiritual inspiration that was the brainchild of the town’s founder Allen Allensworth. I also express my gratitude to the Friends of Allensworth, the late Mr. Ed Pope, Mrs. Alice Royal and others too numerous to name. Through their unselfish efforts the legacy of Allensworth was rescued from obscurity, if not total destruction.

Through an impressive rescue operation beginning with California State Parks and the Office of Historic Preservation, Allensworth has taken on new life. Visitors to the park can see what the buildings look liked during its

heyday. We know where and how the people lived, worked and played. Allensworth is but one successful example of what can happen when everyday ordinary people, like you and I, take it upon our selves to act in the service of preserving history.

Today the State of California is faced with making many difficult fiscal decisions. One which directly affects Allensworth State Park is deciding which state parks should close and which parks are worthy to remain open. This is where you come in.

Less than 1% of California’s registered historic landmarks reflect the state’s diverse multicultural heritage. The 2006-2010 State Historic Preservation Plan places increasing the number of applications to the various historic registers as a high priority. You can help make that decision easier by planning a visit to Allensworth State Historic Park and encouraging everyone you know to do the same. Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this letter of support. Please click on the following link to discover more about Allensworth State Historic!

Rick Moss
Chief Curator

Allensworth State Historic Park