A Legacy in the Redwoods: Sam McDonald County Park and Black History Month

Loma Mar- A short drive from downtown Redwood City, the road narrows as it climbs into a thick redwood forest with steep canyon walls. Within minutes, glass and steel give way to redwoods, and the bustle of Silicon Valley falls away.

That road leads to Sam McDonald County Parkand, this month, to a closer look at the history behind its name.

That history is tied to Emanuel "Sam" McDonald, who began acquiring land here in 1919, at a time when African Americans rarely owned large tracts in California.

McDonald worked at Stanford University for more than 50 years, beginning in the early 1900s. During that time, he traveled regularly between campus and the forest, assembling more than 400 acres along Alpine Creek and the surrounding hillsides.

Now, nearly seven decades after McDonald passed away, the Board of Supervisors want to spotlight McDonald and his efforts to preserve the land on the national stage. Last month, the Board approved a proposalto nominate portions of the park to the National Register of Historic Places.

"Sam McDonald owned and protected this land at a time when African Americans were routinely excluded from opportunities like that," said San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier. "Recognizing these areas helps tell a fuller history of who shaped this County and why that history still matters."

McDonald's path to the redwoods began far from them.

He was born in 1884 in Monroe, La., to a mother who had been formerly enslaved, and came with his parents to California as a boy. He settled in Northern California as a teenager, working farm and labor jobs before finding steady work at Stanford, first in 1903 as a teamster hauling gravel, then as a custodian of the university's athletic buildings and grounds.

He became superintendent of athletic buildings and grounds in 1907. According to a profile in Stanford Magazine, he was a "Stanford institution who had been part of campus for more than 50 years-long enough to greet Jane Stanford herself, work under five university presidents, and become integral to Farm life and lore."

During that time, he built a cabin from salvaged materials, painting it Cardinal red. He regularly hosted students, colleagues, alumni and others for barbecues, including one for both the Stanford and Cal football coaching staffs, according to the profile.

He bequeathed the property to Stanford with instructions that it be used for the public good, specifically for young people. San Mateo County acquired the property from Stanford after his death in 1957 and opened it as a public park in 1970.

His land now forms the heart of Sam McDonald County Park, an 850-acre preserve off of Pescadero Creek Road, where visitors can walk the same footpaths McDonald and his friends traversed a century ago.

The park features a dramatic elevation change, ranging from 300 to 1,250 feet, with stunning canyon and mountain views.

On a recent morning, a County Parks ranger led a visitor to McDonald's faded Cardinal cabin. Banana slugs crossed footpaths, and dew fell from the redwood canopy. The cabin, located just a few yards from Alpine Creek, is weathered by time and storms, its foundation buckling in places.

The nomination focuses on the portion of the park directly associated with McDonald's ownership and lifetime use, including land along Alpine Creek and the cabin site. If approved, the designation would formally document the area's historic character, make it eligible for preservation grants and support future interpretive efforts.

To honor his legacy, County Parks offers a self-guided "Sam McDonald History Hike," available on the County Parks app.

"Although Sam did not live to see the full flowering of the Civil Rights Movement, his life stands as a testament to the quiet dignity and perseverance of those who worked toward equality long before the movement gained national momentum," the tour states.

The park also offers camps used by youth organizations, offering barbecue grills, campfire pits and restrooms, each achieved by a short hike through the woods.

To get there:The park entrance is located at 13435 Pescadero Creek Road, Loma Mar.

If you go: Sam McDonald Parkis open every day of the year including all holidays. It opens daily at 8 a.m. The closing time varies by time of year, and hours may change based on a variety of conditions, such as weather or emergencies.

There is a $6 vehicle entrance fee, but many visitors may qualify for a fee waiver.

Legacy of Sam McDonald Talk:Join Parks Ranger Katherine Wright as she discusses the legacy of Sam McDonald on March 14, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. The talk is included in the price of admissionto the museum. Learn more.

Effie Milionis Verducci
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
650-407-4915
[email protected]

Joshua Caspillan
Legislative Aide, Sup. Lisa Gauthier, District 4
650-542-1222
[email protected]

Carla Schoof
Parks Communications Manager
650-399-6431
[email protected]