Park History

Once again you can see where General George Washington was headquartered during the harsh winter of 1779-1780 as he plotted the colonies' rebellion against England. After being closed since last October, the Ford Mansion at Morristown National Historical Park is open for tours.

Though Native Americans have been gathering at Rainbow Bridge for at least 10,000 years, it's only been a century since the stone bridge along the Utah-Arizona border has been recognized as a national monument.

The written word is a marvelous thing, so much more so when it's used to describe a place. In the early part of the 21st century, those employed by the Government Printing Office had a stylish way to describe national parks. Perhaps not as eloquent as some of today's finer writers, but stylish just the same.

The American Southwest is honeycombed with ruins from long-past civilizations. Mesa Verde National Park and Canyon de Chelly National Monument are well-known for their cliff dwellings, while at Bandelier National Monument the sandstone walls are pocked with "cavates" used as shelter centuries ago.

Nestled in along M Street, in the heart of Georgetown, you'll stumble upon The Old Stone House, one of the oldest homes remaining in Washington, DC. Built in 1765, the house is maintained and operated by the National Park Service, and is part of the National Park System's Rock Creek Park unit.

My first visit to Yosemite National Park back in June 1999 coincided with a rockfall that forced me out of a tent cabin in Curry Village and into one in Tuolumne Meadows. Ever since, I've been intrigued by rockfalls in the park's iconic valley. While the frequency of rockfalls in recent years might be alarming to park visitors, they are calling cards evidencing the active geology that's ongoing in Yosemite.

One of the glories of Acadia National Park are the carriage paths that wend their way through the forests of Mount Desert Island. And one of the wonders of those paths are the bridges that you pass under, and cross over, while exploring the paths on foot, carriage, or bike.

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, every trail has a history. That’s what makes hiking here so fascinating. But no trail is as historic or as controversial as the Lake Shore Trail, which skirts Fontana Lake in North Carolina. The issue surrounding it is currently the longest-running open item on the park's agenda, but there’s hope it will be resolved soon.

Sainthood recently bestowed on a 19th century Catholic priest who cared for Hawaiians afflicted with leprosy was celebrated at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, which tells the stories of those who were isolated on the northern shores of Molokai.

John Muir long has been closely associated with nature and the national parks, and rightly so. If you admire him and his writings, let us point you to a site where you can peruse thousands of his letters, sketches, photos and journals.

Every NPS area, even if it wasn't created specifically to commemorate a historical event, includes some interesting tales from the past. At Big Bend National Park, one of those stories involves Pancho Villa and the Army Air Corps.

In the fall of 1941 the Tower made the headlines of the nation's leading newspapers. This was brought about through the fool-hardy stunt of a professional parachutist named George Hopkins. Without the consent or knowledge of National Park Service officials, Hopkins, who held a number of United States and world's records for spectacular jumps, on October 1 parachuted from an airplane to the top of the Tower.

For those who see the national parks as being preserved time immemorial under gigantic bell jars, there is evidence that each succeeding generation makes an imprint or two on the parks. It wasn't too terribly long ago, for instance, that you climbed into the bleachers to watch the bear buffets in Yellowstone National Park, or that the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon National Park had separate dining areas for men and women.

It's been nearly 67 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, yet it still is sharp in many Americans' minds. Spanning nearly all of the Pacific Ocean, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument preserves and interprets the stories and key events in the Pacific Theater during World War II. A new video sheds some light on the history of those who went down with the USS Arizona.

Well, the big event is over. If you managed to make it through each and every minute of The National Parks: America's Best Idea, congratulations! If you're wanting more, read on to find out where you can get another fix of national parks.

South Carolina ETV’s new documentary “Roots in the River: The Story of Congaree National Park” will be aired in association with Ken Burns’ six-part documentary on America's national parks. A sneak preview of clips from both documentaries will be screened for the general public at the Congaree National Park visitor center on Sunday, September 20.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of two related events: the establishment of the park and a landmark court case that helped lay the foundation for modern environmental law.

In the early 1900s, there were plenty of ideas for ways the new agency called the National Park Service could "improve" the parks. Here are a couple whose time never came, perhaps in part due to the "bad times" during World War I and the Great Depression.

Over 39 million vehicles a year travel across a famous bridge—and pass over an NPS historic site, both literally and figuratively. The park under the bridge is often overlooked by locals and tourists alike, but it offers both interesting history and a fine scenic view.

Abraham Lincoln said, "Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket." A new virtual exhibit on the siege of Vicksburg is now available on-line for the enjoyment of history buffs, and its also a useful tool for teachers.

Congress authorized a Zuni-Cibola National Historical Park several decades ago, but no such NPS unit ever materialized. The people of Zuni Pueblo didn’t like the idea.

Once a popular stopping spot in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Wonderland Hotel no longer exists. This video explains some of the hotel's history.

In the early 1900s, some national parks existed, but getting to them was problematic. Then was born the idea to develop a "National Park-to-Park Highway," one that would run through 11 states and connect 13 national parks.

Despite it's name, Glacier National Park is a pretty great place for boating and fishing. And, as this vintage film clearly shows, that's been true for a long time.

Sure, the 1920s footage is grainy and just black and white, but this vintage home movie of the Grand Canyon is worth watching. Be sure to look for the pack trains headed down into the canyon.

The nearly 400 units of our National Park System include the names of some famous men and women, along with those of natural features and historical events, but the origin of one of those monikers is a bit more obscure.

It could be argued that the two most important jobs along the Eastern seaboard during the 19th century were that of lighthouse keeper and life-saver. The former worked hard to warn ships off shoals, while the latter worked to save those who ships foundered.

Today practically all you need to say is "Bryce Canyon" to create a colorful mental picture of this Southwestern gem of the National Park System. But back in the early 1900s when a travelogue of the park was filmed, the color had to be in the narrative.

Navajo National Monument includes great history, fine scenery and an off-the-beaten-path location that allows you to escape the crowds. The park also includes an interesting wildlife species—a carnivorous mouse with a call said to resemble the howl of a wolf.

This unit of the National Park System commemorates an event that was once celebrated as a national holiday, helped put a general in the White House, and inspired a popular song a few decades ago. Just for good measure, the park story also includes a legendary pirate.