Park Unit 67: Cesar E. Chavez National Monument

7/30/15. This was the last day of our Northern California Road Trip and we stopped at the Cesar Chavez National Monument on our way home to Burbank. This is a new park that was established by President Obama. According to the National Park website, "Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, César E. Chávez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's first permanent agricultural union. His leadership brought sustained international attention to the plight of U.S. farm workers, and secured for them higher wages and safer working conditions."

This unit is located in a remote area in the foothills of the mountains just east of Bakersfield and the central valley agricultural area. There is a small museum that they area working on, and a nice little bookstore. The memorial gardens, where Chavez is buried, is lovely and just outside the visitor center. We enjoyed talking to the park ranger, who shared her vision for the future of the park. Her passion and enthusiasm were inspiring.

The location was the headquarters for the United Farm Workers Union during the time of Chavez's work. Driving through the agricultural areas to get to the park unit (especially today when it was 105 degrees) is very appropriate and helps to create a context for the importance of the National Monument.