Col. Charles Young – First Black National Park Superintendent

This week, we’re celebrating Black History Month by highlighting someone who made important contributions to preserving California’s natural habitats and making them accessible for people to enjoy. This person was Colonel Charles Young, the first Black superintendent of a U.S. National Park. In 1903, he oversaw construction and development at Sequoia National Park and a portion of Kings Canyon national park, working to protect California’s natural habitats while increasing their accessibility to the public, and securing more land in the national parks for future generations.