California family kept ranching after selling 890 acres to National Park Service

In 1974, the federal government purchased 890 acres of land from the Stewart family for the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore. This sale raised questions about the future of their family's cattle operations, which had been ongoing for generations. However, the Stewarts negotiated a unique life estate agreement which allowed them to continue living and working on the land for nearly five more decades.

By 2021, after 150 years of continuous caretaking, they had shown how agricultural heritage and modern park management can coexist harmoniously. The family's story highlights the successful collaboration between private citizens and governmental authorities in safeguarding natural landscapes while preserving human history and traditions.