To right a wrong: the Story of Ballard Mountain

Media & PressCommunity
Written By Santa Monica Mountains Fund

Last week the National Park Service (NPS) released a new movie, To Right a Wrong: The Story of Ballard Mountain. This 13 minute film documents a community campaign to change the name of a local peak in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 

Previously known as a racial slur, the mountain was renamed in 2010 to honor the first Black family to homestead in the Santa Monica Mountains. This community’s actions reverberated across the region and ended up reaching the modern-day Ballard family, descendants of John Ballard whom the mountain was eventually named for.

The inspirational, heart-wrenching film chronicles the resiliency of a family who overcame incredible hardships.  This project was funded by the National Park Service and the Santa Monica Mountains Fund.

View the film below, or find extra information from the NPS website, or read the news release.

Santa Monica Mountains Fund
Previous

Hiking the backbone trail - Part 4: Mishe Mokwa to Mullholland Highway
Next

Hiking the backbone trail - Part 3: Triunfo Pass to Sycamore Canyon