1a3c63f7-e51b-4948-b584-523e8bd1ccf0

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Two women sit outside a small wooden house with rock chimney and sloping roof with a mountain range in the background.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a National Park Service site located in Calabasas, California that interprets the story of the Ballard Family as part of the park history. John Ballard was born enslaved in Kentucky, and during Reconstruction he and his family became some of the first Black homesteaders in the Santa Monica Mountains. John became a prominent leader in the Reconstruction era African American community around Los Angeles. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was added to the Network in 2025.

Permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this website. Digital assets without any copyright restrictions are public domain.

Photo Courtesy of the Russell and Huse Families

Public domain

Image

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, Code: REER

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
Latitude: 32.4328002929688, Longitude: -80.6705017089844

NPS.gov Collection

01/01/0001

Public Can View

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 12:54:50 PM

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 1:04:37 PM

Ballard Homestead ca 1900 Santa Monica Mountains Photo courtesy of the Russell and Huse families.jpg

Monday, January 1, 0001 12:00:00 AM

jpg

252.8 kB

Scenic