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National Parks
Overview:
The world's first national park, Yellowstone, was created by an act of Congress in 1872. Today, the national park system includes 392 sites (58 national parks), over 83 million acres of land, and hosts over a quarter million visitors per year. Join Active Minds as we tell the story of the development of our national parks system and highlight some of the more notable parks and their stories.
Key Lecture Points:
The National Park System consists of 84.6 million acres of land, slightly more than the entire state of Kansas. The idea of a National Park system for the United States was inspired by the natural beauty of the land, its plant and animal life, as well as the historical and archaeological legacy of the Native Americans.
The first National Park, Yellowstone, was created by an act of Congress signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Thereafter, the number of national parks grew gradually. During his Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt wielded the Antiquities Act of 1906, to use the power of the Presidency to declare National Monuments, including Grand Canyon, to vastly enlarge the territory preserved under the control of the federal government.
In 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the Act that created the National Park System that brought National Parks, Monuments and other Federally preserved lands under the singular control of the Department of the Interior.
The recent economic downturn has boosted visitation to units of the National Park System by 5%. Families with less money to spend on vacation have turned to the National Park System as an affordable alternative that provides a quality family experience. At the same time, the recession has necessitated budget cuts in the park system, meaning fewer resources are available to meet the rising public demand.
The National Park System is a public resource that strives to meet the demands of a diverse outdoor going population. There have always been issues related to fair and proper use of park facilities and resources. While both firearms and snowmobiling are currently legal, these controversial issues continue to be argued and debated. In addition, decisions about park use seek to balance protecting park resources with considerations for local economies that rely heavily on the parks to sustain them.
Exploration Questions:
In the face of rising visitation and falling budgets, will the park be able to fulfill its mission "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations"?
When making decisions about park usage, how much should local economic considerations be taken into account?
What role in our society do national parks play? How do you see them adding to American culture and national identity?
Reflective Questions:
Do you know anyone who participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps efforts in the National Park System?
Do you have a favorite memory of a visit to a National Park?
More to Explore:
National Park Conservation Association: www.npca.org
National Park Service: www.nps.org
Books For Further Reading:
Burns, Ken, and Duncan, Dayton. The National Parks: Americas Best Idea. Alfred Knopf, 2009. 403 pages. The companion volume to the new Ken Burns film. An in depth illustrated history of the American national park system. Click here to order.
Runte, Alfred. National Parks: The American Experience. Taylor Trade, 2010. 307 pages. Written by an acclaimed environmental historian, a history of the national park system with an emphasis on conservation efforts, past, present, and future. Click here to order.
White, Mel. Complete National Parks of the United States. National Geographic, 2008. 527 pages. An illustrated guide to over 400 units in the national park system. Click here to order.
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