BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Right in our backyard a cultural gem shows a piece of our history to inspire the path forward.
A time capsule, National Park and family home. What started as Cesar Chavez’s home in La Paz, is now a learning center for future generations.
His grandson, Andres Chavez, was our guide for an exclusive tour of the grounds, sharing special personal memories.
“One of the cool things about our visitor center is that not only is it a building, but this is the building where Cesar and so many other leaders of the farm worker movement actually used to work,” said Andres Chavez. “So, we converted this place in 2003, 2004 to become a place where people can come and learn about the work of the movement.”
“With over 430 National Park Service Units, there’s only a handful that are telling a contemporary story that connects to the Latino and Hispanic heritage of America,” said Erin Gates. “Visitors have a chance to view into Cesar’s office as it was when he passed away in 1993. I think a lot of people remember of him for being, kind of a labor leader and organizer, and my tata Cesar said, ‘You know? I want to be remembered as a strategist,’” said Gates.