County Sites Among Those on State Anniversary List

To celebrate California’s 150th anniversary of statehood, the state Department of Parks and Recreation has produced a passport that invites visitors to explore significant historical and cultural sites.

Those who visit any of the 90 state parks, 15 national parks, 11 national forests and 34 museums included in the Sesquicentennial Passport California 150 can validate the passport with a specially designed rubber stamp until Dec. 31, 2002.

Mary Helmich, sesquicentennial coordinator for California State Parks, who spent 2 1/2 years on the project, said deciding which places to include was difficult. The commemorative keepsake includes popular as well as lesser-known locations.

“State parks [officials] recognize California’s significant history and wanted to do more to preserve it,” she said. “This is a vehicle to promote that.”

Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the Autry Museum of Western History, Placerita Canyon State Park in Newhall, Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve Park, the Antelope Valley Indian Museum, Angeles Crest Scenic Byway and Fort Tejon State Historical Park are among the nearby sites included in the passport.

Passports sell for $5.95 and are available at any of the 150 locations included or can be ordered from the California State Parks Store at (800) 777-0369.

Proceeds, approximately $3 per passport, will benefit the location where it was purchased.