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A Major Overhaul at Ford's Theatre National Historic Site Raises a Few Eyebrows

Jan 27th - 11:35am | Debbie Davidson

Bottomline is, upgrades should be done in moderation. They are supposed to make the historical sites more comfortable for people, and not to alter it's general look. I'm all for the ACs and restrooms, but not so much interest for the supposedly new "parlor" and concessions. I guess it'll destroy the historical feel of the place.

Jan 25th - 21:58pm | JimB

DJ and Warren Z - A nice exchange of viewpoints and information! It was nice to see the article generated a little discussion, and I appreciate the input from both of you. Warren's comments as a former employee at Ford's Theater provided some useful, first-hand perspective.

Jan 25th - 18:40pm | DJ

Warren Z - Thanks again for your response. I guess the conflict is mostly in my emotion and not in my common sense or intellect. I did admit that my position isn't defensible, and the more I think about it the more I don't make sense to myself. I appreciate your thoughtful replies and the opportunity you and this site give me to think past my knee-jerk response.

Jan 25th - 17:47pm | Warren Z

Again DJ, the original performance space at Ford's Theatre hasn't existed since the War Department took over the building in the late 1860's.

Jan 25th - 14:24pm | Warren Z

For all those worried about the upgrades at Ford's Theatre, a fact needs to be reiterated.

Jan 25th - 14:00pm | DJ

Warren Z - Thanks for taking the time to address my sarcastic comments. The article struck a sour note in my head, and the more I mull it over, the more I don't think I have a solid defensible position on it.

The Future of the "Gateway Arch" is On the Table—Will You be Part of the Discussion?

Jan 27th - 11:28am | Anonymous

Sabattis: de-authorization is not the same as destruction! The country has many world-class structures that are not managed and maintained by the federal government: the Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge, and St Patrick's Cathedral to name a few. The Arch is magnificent architecture - but there is no reason to have the NPS manage it.

Jan 27th - 07:02am | Warren Z

Mr. Danforth said the St. Louis waterfront needs " a major museum or other world-class attraction designed by an internationally acclaimed architect." Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Arch fulfill that criteria?

Jan 27th - 06:38am | Sabattis

Whenever the Gateway Arch is mentioned on Traveler, I'm always disheartened when comments come out advocating its delisting. To me, the Gateway Arch is one of America's most-precious landmarks and is one of the crown jewels of the National Park System, along with the National Mall, the Statue of Liberty, and Mt. Rushmore.

Jan 26th - 20:48pm | Ann

The Arch is beautiful. I grew up near it. I've gone back to it since I've left. I walk in the open spaces beneath it. It is a monument, not an amusement park. It is a feat of engineering. It is a marvel. The grounds are open and beautiful, and invite peace and enjoyment.

Jan 26th - 19:37pm | Barky

If the landscaping needs shoring up, then do so. But no business establishments on the park grounds. Should be the same for all these smallish urban sites. Develop outside the park. I'm sure there's plenty of run-down areas ready for that. Of course, that means they'd have to buy the land from the owners, instead of using eminent domain or something to take it from the NPS.

Jan 26th - 15:45pm | MRC

I repeat what I wrote here before on the issue: The arch, the river and the open space belong together. Only the ensemble makes the memorial.

Jan 26th - 14:56pm | OnDaRoad

I grew up in St. Louis as well. I always enjoy walking the grounds of the Arch, sitting on the steps and watching the river traffic. I have visited the museum below the Arch several times. The city, however, does need economic rebirth. The riverfront area is not what it could be and there needs to be a way to connect the heart of downtown with the riverfront over the highway corridor.

Jan 26th - 13:34pm | anonymous

I was still growing up when the Arch was growing up! The arch & park should remain the same,with only repairs & upkeep.I live two hours from St. Louis & go there frequently. As soon as I see the arch I still get excited. We go around the curve & there she is! She serves her purpose. She is the Gateway of the West.

Jan 26th - 11:53am | South St. Louis...

I love the open space -- one of the few greavistas of the Mississippi River available. And allfor free -- I don't that taken away.

Jan 26th - 10:43am | Anonymous

This is a park that screams for de-authorization. The park should have been removed from the park system when the historic building were torn down to build the arch. Let the city have it or give it to Disney to run as an amusement park - that's all it is. The courthouse would still be a National Historic Landmark run by someone else.

Freeze On New Regs Could Impact Efforts to Expand Mountain Biking in National Parks

Jan 26th - 20:30pm | Zebulon

We've come full circle. :) What the administration does with this proposed rule will tell a lot about what groups it listens to the most. If I had to bet, I'd guess that the rule will be a bit more restrictive to cater to the liberal side of the party (Sierra Club, etc.) while still leaving some elements intacts to please the others.

Jan 26th - 20:17pm | imtnbke

I think that's correct. Schneider's point is a narrow one: the freeze itself isn't going to block the regulation, but the fact that a new administration will be evaluating the comments and writing the final rule, if there is to be one, could stop any change in NPS policy on mountain bike access.

Jan 26th - 19:51pm | Kurt Repanshek

As I understand things, while the bike rule is not directly affected by the freeze placed on new rules and regs, the NPS isn't obligated to place it into effect once the comment period runs its course, so it could wind up facing the same outcome as rules that are directly affected by the freeze and which the new administration finds serve no good purpose.

Jan 26th - 19:37pm | imtnbke

Just in: Bill Schneider reports in New West that neither the guns-in-parks rule or the mountain bikes-in-parks rule is being affected by the freeze on implementing the previous administration's regulations:

Jan 25th - 21:35pm | imtnbke

Kurt, you asked: If one feels slighted because they have to step to the side of the trail, or off the trail, when mountain bikes come through, how does it feel when you have to do the same with horses coming at you? Here's what one backpacker wrote in 2006:

Jan 25th - 20:33pm | imtnbke

With regard to the prior post, succeeding in defining national parks solely as outdoor museums is precisely what will doom political support for them in the not-so-long run.

Great Basin National Park: It's More Than Simply A Cave

Jan 26th - 20:26pm | JimB

This park has a really nice variety of things to see and do - it's worth the drive to get there!

Jan 25th - 18:36pm | Mark Bell

Had an opportunity to visit Great Basin back in October of 2008. Incredible remoteness and beauty. At that time of year there was only one other person on the cave tour. The next day on Wheeler Peak I only encoutered three other people. If you get a chance also visit Lexington Arch.

Jan 25th - 18:08pm | Gerald

Thank God for Ronald Reagan!

Jan 25th - 14:08pm | mommykatt

Great Basin National Park is one of our favortie parks to visit. The hike out through the bristlecones to the rock glacier is one of my personal favorites. The cave is really neat and a big hit with our two children. Wheeler Peak is a nice moderate hike. Osceola Ditch is interesting as well as Baker Creek.

Secretary Salazar on Guns in Parks: He'll "Take A Look At It"

Jan 26th - 19:45pm | Kurt Repanshek

Well, to be accurate, the guns rule wasn't in the freeze mix anyway, as it already had been placed into effect before President Obama was sworn in. That said, it's still the subject of two lawsuits.

Jan 26th - 19:39pm | imtnbke

Just in: Bill Schneider reports in New West that neither the guns-in-parks rule or the mountain bikes-in-parks rule is being affected by the freeze on implementing the previous administration's regulations:

Jan 26th - 15:28pm | Zebulon

Reminds me of an interesting anecdote. One evening after work, I was riding in a local park with some mountain biking buddies. On our way down, we met a solo rider, and proceeded to chit chat as one of us had seen a mountain lion earlier. The solo guy proceeded to reply that he was okay since he was packing a gun on his ride! The interesting part was that he was not wearing a helmet.

Jan 26th - 01:16am | Ray Bane

Respectfully, there is a word for that degree of concern. Following that line of reasoning, wouldn't it be just as appropriate to carry a gas mask, flame retardant coveralls, emergency medical kit, full body armor, etc.?

Jan 25th - 13:47pm | Fred Miller

"Anonymous" said: I guess I'm lost. Just WHY do people want to carry guns in a National Park? Why indeed! I carry in the National Park for the same reason I carry when I go to Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Home Depot, or Safeway: I honestly hope that I will not NEED it, but I'll have it with me for that one-in-a-million chance that I might have to USE it.

It's Not Too Early To Start Planning This Summer's National Park Vacation

Jan 26th - 19:23pm | Kurt Repanshek

If memory serves me right, both the Old Faithful Snow Lodge in Yellowstone and the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia opened in 1999. Can't think of any more recent abodes.

Jan 26th - 19:12pm | Sabattis

It seems like a real shame that so many National Park lodging options are either very expensive, or else so hard to come by that you must book them 7-8 or more months in advance. To me, this suggests that there really aren't enough National Park Lodges available. Does anyone know when the last National Park Lodge was built? Are there any plans in the works for additional lodges?

Change.gov and the National Park System Under the Obama Administration

Jan 26th - 19:18pm | Sabattis

There are actually quite a few "model farms" in the National Park System, in addition to Cuyahoga Valley, there are also farms at Grant-Kohrs Ranch, Lincoln Boyhood, the LBJ Ranch, Piscataway Park, Oxon Cove Park, and the Claude Moore Colonial Farm on the GW Parkway.

Interior Secretary Salazar Uses the "S" Word On Second Day at the Office

Jan 26th - 18:04pm | Anonymous

Science is not about goals, its about cause & effect. I'm a scientist: with adequate data, on a good day I can estimate the probabilities of different outcomes for a given management alternative. I can make inferences about times or places I haven't observed, or about causal mechanisms.

Rocky Mountain National Park: It Shames the Andes and Alps

Jan 26th - 16:07pm | joe in denver

Another concern to the 4 legged residences of Rocky Mountain is the Mag-Chloride which is used to melt ice and snow from the paved roads in and around the park. I have written about this to you and others before. Their is a study going on at Colorado State in Fort Collins about the harmful effects of this chemical. Great story about Rocky Mountain National Park,Andes and Alps

Jan 26th - 11:00am | tgearheart

Exceptional Article, Thank YOU

Climate Change: Fact or Fiction?

Jan 26th - 15:24pm | Lone Hiker

I thought I knew better from my days living in Utah, but when I read the comment regarding how there's never been more forested land in the continental US that currently stands (no pun intended) I thought it would be worth the update to all parties concerned about just how much "greening" has been taking place of late.

Planning to Visit Apostle Islands National Lakeshore? Leave Your Gun At Home

Jan 26th - 14:24pm | Anonymous

I have never needed a firearm in any of our parks ever. Why are we packing guns? I have plenty of them, but have no need to travel with one in possession.

Jan 26th - 12:40pm | Anonymous

It won't bother me my firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case but it will be with me

Post-Inauguration Facts and Figures from the NPS – but Don't Expect a Crowd Estimate

Jan 26th - 09:17am | jsmacdonald

I am a veteran of many crowds on the Mall, and I have to disagree strongly with the ASU professor on this one. First off, let me say that I did not vote for Obama -- I left a blank ballot for President. The 1.8 million number for the Mall is an extremely reasonable number, and the entire crowd was no doubt closer to the 2 million range, if not a little larger.

Jan 26th - 06:32am | Mike Kelley

I posted this on another site on Jan. 21, 2009:

Interior Officials Release Rule Change to Allow National Park Visitors to Arm Themselves

Jan 26th - 08:36am | Kurt Repanshek

Fact check: Mr. Stayner's murders of "three women" were committed outside Yosemite in the town of El Portal.

Jan 25th - 21:53pm | WJ Childress

I agree completely. It is foolish to think that the criminals will not have concealed weapons in the National Parks. It is also foolish to think that the law enforcement in the NPS will be able to protect law abiding citizens while they are in the Parks. Does anyone remember what Mr Stainer did to those three women? I applaude Mr Bush's decision.

Yellowstone Geologist Worries About What Goes "Bump" At Night

Jan 26th - 00:50am | Ray Bane

Watching Yellowstone breathe has to be a humbling experience. It is a reminder of just how insignificant we are in terms of geologic history.

Dinosaur National Monument Superintendent Favors Law Enforcement, Maintenance, Interpretation Over Paleontology

Jan 25th - 17:31pm | Anonymous

iam going to school to be a paleontologist and i wanted to know how much money do paleontologist make a year and what classes do you have to take to become a paleontologist and is worth the time,money and the schooling.

Considering a Hike up Half Dome?

Jan 25th - 12:54pm | Pennsylvania Ro...

This article makes me happy and sad. I am happy to see so many people enjoyng such as great climb but sad that one of my fav spots is so well known. I like to climb areas that are off the beaten path and this one is not not one of them.

NPS's Backlog, Updated

Jan 25th - 12:28pm | John Hunter

They do let some of the roads become hiking trails, when they can't afford to keep them open as roads. I would like to see more investment in the National Parks (which I will admit is one of the few area I think spending should be increased). But if congress is not going to do that I think the director should try to raise more donations.

Park History: Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Jan 25th - 12:18pm | John Hunter

I have posted photos from my recent visit to Timpanogos Cave National Monument. It was a nice visit but I must say the thing I would not miss in the immediate are is the Mount Timpanogos hike (even if you don't do the whole hike).

What Priorities Should The Next National Park Service Director Address?

Jan 25th - 12:11pm | Rick Smith

Actually, Jim has two good points: 1.) buy land and 2.) return land appraisers to the NPS. The consolidation of land appraisal in the Department was a politically motivated move on the part of the Bush Administration to control the land acquisition process so that it could be stalled or stopped.

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