The Forty Acres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
The Forty Acres
|
|
 |
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 30168 Garces Highway, Delano, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001090 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 2008 |
The Forty Acres is a very important place in Delano, California. It was the first main office for a special group called the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union. A labor union is like a team that helps workers get fair pay and good working conditions.
The UFW bought this land in 1966. Over the next few years, they built many important buildings there. The first building was a service station, built in 1967. Soon after, other smaller service buildings were added. The main building, called Reuther Hall, was built between 1968 and 1969. It was named after Roy Reuther, a leader from another union. Later, in the early 1970s, a health clinic and a place for retired workers were also built at The Forty Acres.
A Place for Change
The Forty Acres is famous because it was where Cesar Chavez worked. He was a very important leader who fought for the rights of farmworkers. The site played a big part in the Delano grape strike of the 1960s. This was a major protest where farmworkers stopped working to demand better treatment from grape growers.
Cesar Chavez's Fast
In 1968, Cesar Chavez brought national attention to The Forty Acres. He did a public fast there, which means he stopped eating for a period of time. He did this to protest violence and to show how serious the farmworkers were about their cause.
Ending the Grape Strike
In 1970, something big happened at Reuther Hall. Leaders from the UFW and the grape growers signed special agreements. These agreements ended the long grape strike. They also helped more than 70,000 farmworkers in the grape industry join the union. This meant they would have better rights and working conditions.
After the grape strike ended, Cesar Chavez moved the main UFW office to a new location. However, The Forty Acres continued to be a helpful place for farmworkers. It served as a community center and a local office for the union.
A National Treasure
The Forty Acres was recognized as a National Historic Landmark on October 6, 2008. This means it is a very important place in American history.
In 2013, there was a plan to make The Forty Acres part of a new National Historical Park. This park would honor the life and work of Cesar Chavez and the farm worker movement. Other places that might be part of this new park include:
- The Filipino Community Hall in Delano, California (another important spot for the grape strike).
- Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz in Keene, California.
- McDonnell Hall in San Jose, California.
- The Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
This new park would need approval from the United States Congress to become official.
