California State Parks giving $50 passport away for free

California State Parks is offering its Historian Passport - normally $50 - for free from June 17 through July 6, in celebration of the country's 250th anniversary. The pass grants free entry to more than 30 of California's state historic parks and museums.

In making state history more accessible around Juneteenth and July Fourth holidays, state officials are also demonstrating their opposition to the policies of the Donald Trump administration. "In stark contrast with the Trump administration's attempted whitewashing of American history, California is offering a special edition California State Parks Historian Passport free to download through the Fourth of July weekend," Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said in a news release Wednesday.

It's not the first time California's been generous with state parkgoers as a form of protest. When the administration canceled free admission to national parks on Martin Luther Luther King Jr. Day in January, the agency offered free admission to state parks. And now, with free national parks admission canceled for the Juneteenth holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery, California's Historian Passport is being offered at no charge.

"While President Donald Trump ends free admission to national parks on Juneteenth, uses entry fees to fund his latest vanity project, and attempts to whitewash the past, California is making the incredible sites that preserve the state's complex history free to visit through a special limited-time pass," Newsom's office said.

Notably, the Trump administration also issued a directive to federal agencies last year to remove signs and other material that "inappropriately disparage Americans past or living," and to instead highlight the nation's progress and achievements. The Park Service has removed dozens of materials, including signs connecting American explorers with massacres of Native Americans at both Grand Teton National Park and Glacier National Park, and a rainbow flag was taken down at Stonewall National Monument, which commemorates the movement for LGBTQ rights. On June 12, a judge ordered the National Park Service to restore the materials within three weeks, but the Trump administration has appealed the ruling.

Meanwhile, California's Historian Pass grants unlimited entry to state historic parks for up to four people, and is valid for through the end of 2026. Californians can download the pass for free through July 6.

"California doesn't hide from hard truths and uncomfortable history - in fact, we embrace it and learn from it," Newsom said in the news release. "While Trump ignores and tries to rewrite the past, California is marking these celebrations of freedom by inviting everyone to learn our country's history - our real history - for free in our state parks."

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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 10:40 AM.