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  National Park Service site

  Alcatraz Island

  California

  Alcatraz reveals stories of American incarceration, justice, and our common humanity. This small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum security fe…

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  National Historic Trail

  Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail

  Arizona, Arkansas, California +4

  In 1857, businessman and transportation entrepreneur John Butterfield was awarded a contract to establish an overland mail route between the eastern United States an…

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  National Monument

  Cabrillo National Monument

  California

  In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States.…

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  National Historic Trail

  California National Historic Trail

  California, Colorado, Idaho +7

  Follow in the footsteps of over 250,000 emigrants who traveled to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840s and 1850s: the greatest mass migr…

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  National Monument

  Castle Mountains National Monument

  California

  Castle Mountains represents some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert. Nestled between the Nevada state line and Mojave National Preserve, the nearly 21,…

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  National Monument

  César E. Chávez National Monument

  California

  Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in…

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  National Park

  Channel Islands National Park

  California

  Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources.…

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  National Park

  Death Valley National Park

  California, Nevada

  In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks…

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  National Monument

  Devils Postpile National Monument

  California

  Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow F…

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  National Historic Site

  Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

  California

  America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose Northern California as his sanctuary at the pinnacle of his writing career. Secluded from the ou…

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  National Historic Site

  Fort Point National Historic Site

  California

  From its vantage point overlooking the spectacular Golden Gate, Fort Point defended the San Francisco Bay following California's Gold Rush through World War II. Its…

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  National Recreation Area

  Golden Gate National Recreation Area

  California

  Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the…

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  National Historic Site

  John Muir National Historic Site

  California

  John Muir’s life was a tapestry of roles—fruit rancher, family man, writer—each interwoven with his deep love for nature. As one of America’s most influential natura…

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  National Park

  Joshua Tree National Park

  California

  Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes…

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  National Historic Trail

  Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

  Arizona, California

  The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail covers over 1200 miles through the homelands of 70+ Tribal communities. It follows the historic route of the 1775-7…

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  National Park

  Lassen Volcanic National Park

  California

  Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the s…

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  National Monument

  Lava Beds National Monument

  California

  Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield vo…

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  National Historic Site

  Manzanar National Historic Site

  California

  In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manz…

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  National Preserve

  Mojave National Preserve

  California

  Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experienc…

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  National Monument

  Muir Woods National Monument

  California

  Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected…

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  National Historic Trail

  Old Spanish National Historic Trail

  Arizona, California, Colorado +3

  Follow the routes of mule pack trains across the Southwest on the Old Spanish National Historic Trail between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California. New…

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  National Park

  Pinnacles National Park

  California

  Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have fo…

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  National Seashore

  Point Reyes National Seashore

  California

  From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point R…

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  National Historic Trail

  Pony Express National Historic Trail

  California, Colorado, Kansas +5

  It is hard to believe that young men once rode horses to carry mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only 10 days. This relay system along th…