African American History & Engagement Project 
CAAM X CA State Parks 

Black History in State Parks is The African American History & Engagement (AAH&E) project, a partnership between California State Parks and the California African American Museum (CAAM).

AAH&E researches, documents, and interprets Black community histories in dozens of state parks. The project connects memory keepers and knowledge bearers: external stakeholders, scholars, artists, designers, Parks staff and volunteers, and a curatorial team of archivists. Arianne Edmonds has served as a Curator & Scholar for the AAH&E project since 2023. 

This project is made possible by a one-time, five-year project fund awarded by the state legislature in July 2022. The funds support staff, docent, and partner training to interpret and institutionalize newly restored histories. Utilizing research-based, innovative programming and community engagement, the project counters the erasure of Black California from the state’s narrative and recovers valuable knowledge of the past.