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 naturalists, Muir was more than just an observer of the wilderness; he was its fiercest advocate. His passion for the land drove him to protect the places he held dear, ensuring that future generations could experience their beauty.

John Muir Home at the John Muir National Historic Site

Historic Copper Sprayer.

John Muir National Historic Site

Mount Wanda walking trail.

Mount Wanda

The old windmill.

John Muir's desk in the "Scribble Den".

Benicia Capitol SHP

Bird's eye view of the campground

Benicia SRA

En Route Parking Lot

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two ships loading ammunition for Pacific troops exploded, resulting in the worst home front disaster of WWII. The aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Park sign at the memorial.

Historic train car at the memorial site.

Munitions at the memorial.

American flag at the memorial.

Albany

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 outside world within the serene walls of his Tao House, O'Neill crafted his final and most memorable masterpieces: The Iceman Cometh, Long Day's Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten.

Eugene O'Neill Home in Danville, California

The "Old Barn", a part of the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

Old Barn

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site

Mountain background as seen from the park.

The Eugene O'Neill NHS park sign.

Historic image of Eugene O'Neill at the Tao House property.

Eugene O'Neill

Mclaughlin Eastshore State Park (State Seashore)

Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths, weave a rich tapestry of experiences from this era of opportunity and loss.

Visitor Center entrance sign with historic Ford Building in the background.

Historic Ford Building

Life Cast Figures Exhibit.

Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center

Exhibits in the Visitor Education Center.

Rosie the Riveter Memorial.

Rosie the Riveter Memorial

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

Emeryville Crescent

Group Campsites

Junction Campground

Juniper Campground

Live Oak Campground

Mount Diablo SP

Robert W. Crown Memorial SB

The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises two components located along the salinity gradient of the San Francisco Bay. The reserve's 3,710 acres are located at China Camp State Park in San Rafael and Rush Ranch in Suisun City, 30 miles north and 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, respectively. A primary focus of the reserve is to support tidal marsh restoration through research, monitoring and education. These sites serve as valuable reference sites in the San Francisco area where nearly 97 percent of the historic tidal wetlands have been lost due to development pressures in the region. These reference sites create an opportunity for a scientific basis for restoration activities in the bay area.

The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises two components located along the salinity gradient of the San Francisco Bay.  The reserve's 3,710 acres are located at China Camp State Park in San Rafael and Rush Ranch in Suisun City, 30 miles north and 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, respectively.  A primary focus of the reserve is to support tidal marsh restoration through research, monitoring and education.  These sites serve as valuable reference sites in the San Francisco area where nearly 97 percent of the historic tidal wetlands have been lost due to development pressures in the region.  These reference sites create an opportunity for a scientific basis for restoration activities in the bay area.

China Camp State Park and San Francisco National Estuarine Research Reserve, California

View of San Francisco Bay from the San Francisco National Estuarine Research Reserve, California

San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Contra Loma Dam and reservoir are part of the Central Valley Project - Delta Division and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San Francisco. Numerous hiking trails exist as part of the facility and the area provides excellent access to the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail. The trail system provides for bikes, equestrian and pedestrian use and are available from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The park also provides picnic and other day use facilities and adjacent to the Antioch Municipal Golf Course.

<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10143.htm" rel="nofollow">Contra Loma Dam</a> and reservoir are part of the <a href="http://www.usr.gov/dataweb/html/delta.html" rel="nofollow">Central Valley Project - Delta Division</a> and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San Francisco. Numerous hiking trails exist as part of the facility and the area provides excellent access to the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail. The trail system provides for bikes, equestrian and pedestrian use and are available from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The park also provides picnic and other day use facilities and adjacent to the Antioch Municipal Golf Course.

Bird's eye view of the park

Contra Loma Reservoir

Buckeye Point Picnic Area

Campground (sites 1-30)

China Camp Group Camping Area

Weber Point Picnic Area

China Camp SP

Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Ayala Cove Group Picnic Area

East Bay (sites 1-3)

East Group Garrison Picnic Area

North Garrison Group Camp

Ridge (sites 4-6)

Sunrise (sites 7-9), Garrison Group Picnic Area

Sunrise (sites 7-9)

West Garrison (sites 10 & Kayak)

Angel Island SP

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is the only national wildlife refuge in the country established to protect endangered plants and insects – the Antioch Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark butterfly.

Created in 1980, the 55-acre refuge was once part of a larger sand dune system that stretched two miles along the southern bank of the San Joaquin River east of the City of Antioch. The sand dunes were formed by ancient deposits of glacial sands carried downriver from the Sierra Nevada. Over thousands of years, ocean winds and bay tides slowly shaped these aeolian (wind-blown) sands into dunes that approached 120 feet in height. Isolation of these dunes resulted in the development of species of plants and insects that were found nowhere else in the world. In 2022, another 12 acres were added to the refuge bringing the total area to 67 acres.

Large-scale sand mining and industrial development fragmented the sand dune habitat until only a small portion of the original ecosystem remained. What is left today are two disjunct parcels (the Stamm and Sardis Units) containing sand dunes varying from 0-50 feet high, making up refuge.

Due to the sensitivity of the habitats and the endangered species, the refuge is not open to unsupervised use by the public. However, refuge staff and local educators conduct on-site environmental education efforts through monthly guided tours and special events. Volunteers also regularly assist refuge staff with habitat restoration projects and endangered species surveys.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is the only national wildlife refuge in the country established to protect endangered plants and insects – the Antioch Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark butterfly. Created in 1980, the 55-acre refuge was once part of a larger sand dune system that stretched two miles along the southern bank of the San Joaquin River east of the City of Antioch. The sand dunes were formed by ancient deposits of glacial sands carried downriver from the Sierra Nevada. Over thousands of years, ocean winds and bay tides slowly shaped these aeolian (wind-blown) sands into dunes that approached 120 feet in height. Isolation of these dunes resulted in the development of species of plants and insects that were found nowhere else in the world. In 2022, another 12 acres were added to the refuge bringing the total area to 67 acres.Large-scale sand mining and industrial development fragmented the sand dune habitat until only a small portion of the original ecosystem remained. What is left today are two disjunct parcels (the Stamm and Sardis Units) containing sand dunes varying from 0-50 feet high, making up refuge. Due to the sensitivity of the habitats and the endangered species, the refuge is not open to unsupervised use by the public.  However, refuge staff and local educators conduct on-site environmental education efforts through monthly guided tours and special events. Volunteers also regularly assist refuge staff with habitat restoration projects and endangered species surveys.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

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 federal penitentiary. In 1969, the Indians of All Tribes occupied Alcatraz for 19 months in the name of freedom and Native American civil rights. We invite you to explore Alcatraz's complex history and natural beauty.

Alcatraz Island

Looking down Broadway in the Alcatraz Cellhouse

Alcatraz Cellhouse

Alcatraz Rangers and 1934 Diamond T Firetruck

Alcatraz Rangers and Firetruck

Alcatraz Island and the Bay Bridge

Mugshot camera used to record new inmates.

Mug Shot Camera

An inmate worker distributes trays near the steam table. Bars separate the kitchen from the mess hall.  The day’s menu, the Christmas meal, appears on a sign over his head. The menu includes consomme, stuffed celery, green olives and mixed sweet pickles,