If you love history and hiking as much as I do, then you’re probably really going to dig this 1935 video about the birth of the California State Park System, courtesy of the National Archives.

The 23 minute filmstrip has a few pops and video losses here and there, but it’s a great view of our state park system when it was first being pieced together, and before it became a favorite budgetary sacrificial lamb of a certain cyborg governor. It’s nice to know that, even as the Great Depression was getting underway, Californians voted 3:1 in favor of a bond to secure a comprehensive system of public parks for the public.

Historic deficit spending, or rare example of voter foresight? Maybe we’ll find out if and when our budget passes, right?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkIkCjwlRL0[/youtube]

Via Two-Heel Drive.

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by Casey Schreiner

Founder and Editor of Modern Hiker, Author of "Day Hiking Los Angeles." "Discovering Griffith Park," and "Cloud Spotting." Walking Meditator, Native Plant Enthusiast.