President Lincoln grants the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove to California, establishing the first state park in the country.
Galen Clark is appointed “guardian” of Yosemite, making him the first California state park ranger.
James Marshall historic monument is dedicated in Coloma, overlooking site of gold discovery. This is the first California State Historic Monument, the forerunner of today’s State Historic Parks.
Photographer Andrew Hill begins campaign to save the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sempervirens Club is founded to lobby for preservation of Santa Cruz Mountains redwood forest in Big Basin as a public park.
California Redwood Park is established; now Big Basin Redwoods State Park—California’s oldest state park.
Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove are returned to the Federal Government to become part of Yosemite National Park.
Save the Redwoods League is founded to preserve Humboldt Redwoods and other redwood areas.
Conservationists and politicians meet in San Francisco to discuss the founding of a state park system.
State legislature passes bill establishing the California State Park System. The new system consolidates management of 14 state parks.
Voters pass parks bond act by a 3-1 margin, providing $6 million in matching funds to establish state parks.
Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. surveys California for potential parks.
Harriett “Petey” Weaver begins 20-year career with State Parks—the first female to perform California State Parks ranger duties.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established. CCC builds park facilities from 1933-1942.
Works Progress Administration (WPA) established. WPA created artistic and interpretive park additions during the Great Depression.
The State Indian Museum opens in mid-town Sacramento.
Sharp wartime attendance decline due to park closures and war rationing of gas, oil and rubber.
Post-war attendance spikes, creating a need for more state parks.
First State Lifeguard program is established at Huntington State Beach.
A record number of land acquisitions totals 59,316 acres in a single year .
First underwater reserve created at Point Lobos Reserve State Park
California State Parks Foundation is established.
Law enforcement training begins for all full-time rangers.
Chappie-Z’berg Act establishes State Vehicular Recreation Areas.
Nonprofit cooperating associations support education and interpretive services in a specific park or parks.
Jr. Rangers Program formally established
The California Wilderness Preservation Act creates the first California state wildernesses, at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Mount San Jacinto State Park.
The Department of Parks and Recreation creates the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), directed by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park dedicated—the first California State Park devoted to African American history
Candlestick Point classified as the first Urban State Recreation Area
The Volunteers in Parks program is created.
Kenneth Hahn SRA acquired, bringing urban state parks to Southern California
The Department undergoes a major reorganization in response to drastic budget cuts. The reorganization, called Phoenix, is an effort to modernize business practices and improve service and efficiency.
Heber Dunes SVRA is acquired--bringing total number of State Vehicular Recreation Areas to eight.
Park Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) is established, providing lesson plans for teachers and live videoconferences between interpreters and classrooms.
Los Angeles State Historic Park and Rio de Los Angeles SP are classified, continuing the urban parks commitment.
California Indian Heritage Center State Park is acquired.
The California Department of Boating and Waterways becomes a Division of California State Parks.
There are currently 280 California State Parks in the system.
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