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Harry A. Butowsky, Long-Tenured National Park Historian, Gone At 78

May 29th - 12:37pm | RD Payne

Harry played a key role in helping to establish Brown v. Board of Education NHS (now NHP) in 1992.  That path started with his authoring of The U.S. Constitution: A National Historic Landmark Theme Study (1986).  As Harry wrote in a special edition of CRM (Vol. 19 No. 2) in 1996:

May 29th - 10:07am | RD Payne

The NPS History eLibrary was the National Park Service's first electronic library, with its first document uploaded in December 1999: The Origin and Evolution of the National Military Park Idea by Ronald F. Lee (1973) followed by The United States Park Police: A History by Barry Mackintosh (1989) and A Brief History of the National Park Service by James F.

National Park Service Continues To Score Low In Best Places To Work Survey

May 27th - 10:40am | Bobby Dupea

Same story every year. Things won't be getting better any time soon. From what I am seeing, it has never been easier to get a permanent job in the NPS, but be prepared to take a vow of poverty. The residents of gateway communities have figured out that it is more lucrative to rent to tourists than to rangers.

Abraham Lincoln's Overcoat Returns to Public Display at Ford's Theatre

May 26th - 08:08am | [email protected]

Thanks !

May 25th - 10:27am | Vanessa Dargain

Big thanks , compliments and many blessings to the hand quilter of the eagle on president Lincoln's great coat . One country one destiny is still the rule in 21st America . Thanks for posting the article .

Debt Ceiling Battle Could Be Crippling For National Park Service, National Parks

May 24th - 06:31am | Jim R, PA MO

The GOP active in office, in my opinion, have a responsibility to do whatever they can to reduce the unnecessary costs and spending for all US. Democrats supporting raising the debt ceiling without serious spending cuts are out of touch on the impact the US debt $31trillion has on our country.  This excessive spending needs to get under control toward a balanced budget.

Apr 27th - 16:55pm | T Burt

OK, Indiscriminate cuts don't work.  So lets have some discriminate ones.  

Apr 24th - 01:05am | Mike B.

There is no way Republicans will agree to cut Defense spending, so all cuts under their budget proposal would fall on discretionary spending.  You know, such "unnecessary" programs as food stamps, environmental enforcement, and, yes, conservation agenncies like NPS and FWS.  They don't propose specific cuts because they don't want to be portrayed as the bad guys, but there would certainly be im

Apr 23rd - 09:42am | Anonymous

https://www.govexec.com/management/2023/04/mccarthy-vows-cut-overgrown-b...

Apr 22nd - 16:26pm | ecbuck

There is no across the board cuts mandated.  It's were they want to set their priorities. In fact the bill has many areas it explicitly identifies for cuts.  None involve the NPS.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Bookstores Carrying New Children’s Title To Help Protect Wildlife

May 23rd - 15:53pm | DP

Adults need to read the book.  We've seen too many "adults" try to get too close to bears and elk with bad results.  Keep your distance folks, the wildlife was here before humans.

Lake Powell Rising About A Foot A Day

May 21st - 22:05pm | Jacquelin Hancock

Fill Lake Powell!!!

Nearly 40 Years After Paul Fugate Disappeared, Effort Renewed To Find Missing Ranger

May 21st - 17:02pm | Old Wilderness ...

I talked with Paul for over an hour a couple weeks before he disapeared. He provided me with a lot of enviro info to help in making the case for Wilderness Designation for the area designated and the North end near the Monument. Very helpful. I had been harrassed by a member of a then notorious family in the area.

Remains Of Man Who Went Missing At Mesa Verde National Park Found

May 19th - 20:46pm | Martha Elizabet...

Try YouTube and search for Two HIKERS missing in national parks. I was able to find Vanished, which aired on the HIstory Channel searching that way. 

May 19th - 20:39pm | Martha Elizabet...

I'm Dale's older sister. Every so often I google his name and just read articles, watch videos about his case. My family and I were devasted to lose Dale in such a weird way. On June 9, 2023, we mark ten years since he went missing. I'm still not over it. He was my best bud in the world. You raised some interesting questions.

The Western Snowy Plover: A Tiny Shorebird On A Long Journey

May 19th - 11:25am | Ken Bouley

According to NPS, "Common ravens are the primary predators of nests and hatchling snowy plovers at Point Reyes National Seashore." The ranches in Point Reyes attract unnatural concentrations of ravens. I am glad the article mentions that. What is not mentioned is that NPS is currently being sued over the wildly unpopular and unscientific plan to continue ranching in Point Reyes.

May 17th - 04:16am | Wendy Poinsot

So glad to read this story and know that park efforts are paying off with reproductive success. 

Gone and Mostly Forgotten: 26 Abolished National Parks

May 19th - 10:14am | bjornironforged

I hear there was a National Park somewhere in West Tennessee that was closed permanently. The government closed it and deleted its prior existence (for certain reasons to not be disclosed here). I'd like to know if anyone has any info on this? contact me via email at [email protected]

Another Pot Farm In Death Valley National Park Cleaned Up

May 18th - 13:58pm | Tracy L Stout Powers

Why do people consistently have to ruin beautiful national parks?

Unresolved Search-and-Rescue Cases Are Scattered Throughout the National Parks

May 17th - 13:51pm | Fred J Fagergren

Thank you again for an excellent article and for a reminder of both the tragedy of lost souls and the significant effort made by NPS Park Rangers and others in trying find every person or child that is lost in the wonderful yet wild places found in the National Park System.  Each Park Ranger will never forget those who were found and especially those who were not.

Yellowstone National Park Wolves And Elk Near Equilibrium, According To Biologist

May 16th - 13:05pm | Tony Stark

Good stuff

Pipe Sales To End At Pipestone National Monument Visitor Center

May 15th - 10:05am | Darryl

Mine is sacred to me . I have Native Americans in my bloodline and my pipe is my conduit to them and the rest of my family that has left this earth ahead of me . 

Recovering From Winter Will Delay Some Access At Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks

May 15th - 09:33am | Tristan

This is helpful for we have reservations at the Buckey Tree Lodge, right there on 198, it makes no sense to keep them during our reservation of June 15-20 if we can't access 198 to go up into the park, having to take 180 instead...

May 14th - 17:35pm | RR

y_p_w, Sadly, most comments are from the same few people who just want to air political greivances.

May 13th - 01:29am | y_p_w

No real message but I noticed that commenting was available for this article and just wanted to say hi since that seems to be a rare thing these days on NPT.

Road Work Will Temporarily Close Access To Points In Dinosaur National Monument

May 14th - 13:43pm | Ron Litton

Access will still be available to many sites along the road with temporary restrictions during actual construction phases. The park is still open... including the principal Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall on the Utah side of the park, where all of the dinosaur fossils are found.

Why You Should Not Store Food in Your Car at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

May 14th - 10:03am | Maples Oak Pinetree

My dad was a ranger and we spent a lot time in the GSMNP when he was off duty as well.  He kept his ranger hat in the car at all times and when came upon a bear that needed to be run off, he would just hold the hat behind his back, walk up to the bear and then put the hat on.

Government Asks Court To Dismiss Utah's Bid To Shrink National Monuments

May 12th - 13:16pm | Nick

A Johnson, a presdent cannot shrink national monuments. Congress removed that ability in 1976 by passing the Federal land Policy and Management ACT (FLPMA). Prior to FLMPA presdents could and did shrink monuments, most notably, WIlon who shrunk Mount Olympus in WA from 640000 acres to 340000 acres in 1915.

May 10th - 11:39am | A . Johnson

Utah's case should absolutely be thrown out. As this is federal lands, the state has no claim to it, and no say over its management  

May 10th - 11:30am | A . Johnson

In their brief (attached below) in support of DOJ, the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe said Biden had the authority to designate not just "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, or other objects of historic or scientific interest" but also lands with scenic beauty and even ecosystems as well as objects of scientific interests.

May 9th - 10:41am | Nick

Utah's case should absolutely be thrown out. As this is federal lands, the state has no claim to it, and no say over its management. A monument is simply the frederal government taking land it already owns and changing how it is managed. Utah tried to overturn  Grand Staircase Escalante before,  in a case callided Utah Association  of counties v Bush, in 2004 the courts told them to get lost.

Vulnerable Nesting Birds Take Flight at Fort Matanzas National Monument

May 12th - 07:05am | Jen Winter

This area is now being commercialized.  No one cares.  It worries one for the wildlife

May 12th - 07:03am | Jen Winter

If this is such a critical nesting site why is there a commercial contractor renting out jet skies and campsites and throwing a concert there this weekend?  It's sickening and the trash is out of control in the nesting sites?

What Not to Do with an Old Cannonball

May 11th - 16:49pm | damo

i have found 1 large and 2 medium size balls which appear to look like cannonballs but unsure so any help to identify them would be much appreciated 

Remembering John Lowry Dobson, Evangelist For Interpreting The "Other Half" Of Our National Parks

May 11th - 13:31pm | Justine J. Parker

I picked up John from his monastery in or near Sacramento  when he was discharged sometime in the 1960's

Outdoor Alliance Releases Roadmap For Expanding Recreation And Battling Climate Change

May 11th - 11:42am | ecbuck

Yes, AJ, when you start with a false premise you will end up with false conclusions - though it might be the conclusion you WANT to reach.  

May 11th - 09:27am | A. Johnson

Sorry, I don't see much meaningful substance to this "report".  It appears to be a lot of puffery.   For example, under mining reforms:  

Artifacts And Archives From Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Heading South For Safekeeping

May 11th - 09:26am | Jim bowman

I can't believe that some artifacts can't be displayed, copper cartridges if the day will survive 10 thousand years with out all the mentioned climate concerns, I think have the wrong folks are running the show, like always if the government is involved it's a disaster. 

The Ancient Salt Trails: Once A Journey For Life; Now It’s A Ceremonial Quest

May 10th - 11:25am | A . Johnson

Nice report.   Any concerns about security, or signs of illegal activities?

UPDATED: Fly A Drone In A National Park, Be Barred For Life From That Park

May 2nd - 15:04pm | Andrew

National Parks are biological reserves first and foremost under the US Organic Act the intent of which is the preservation of both the wild landscapes, geolical features, and the the entire ecosystem of native plants and wild animals.

River Runners Will Need To Strap In For A Wild Ride

May 2nd - 11:07am | A . Johnson

Great suggestions!

UPDATE | Republicans Question Distribution Of Funds For National Park Maintenance Backlog

Apr 27th - 09:51am | ecbuck

Sad part is the Democrats that put on the pretense of careing about the Parks aren't asking the same questions.

Apr 26th - 11:33am | A . Johnson

Why do I feel that if Donald Trump had done something like this it would be covered differently?   It's not a feeling, it's reality.  Last fall, I pointed out how Trump was never credited with signing GAOA, while Biden was applauded for signing the IRA and other NPS funding.  

Apr 26th - 08:37am | Loui

Buried in paragraph 22 is the fact that Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi diverted $365M to her own district.  That is the headline.  That is more than 1/3 of a BILLION dollars to 3 parks.  This is the most outrageous single act of pork barrel in the history of the NPS.

Surveys Point To Public Satisfaction With Arches National Park Reservations System

Apr 26th - 12:31pm | GLA

Fred,

Photography In The National Parks: Same Spot, Different Time / Season / Weather

Apr 26th - 11:37am | A . Johnson

Great photos & story!  Keep them coming!   I was just at Ruby Beach last summer.

Photography In The National Parks: Your Armchair Photography Guide To The North Cascades Complex

Apr 24th - 21:07pm | Keith Tomlinson

Absolutely outstanding information and images. Thank you! 

Traveler's View | Rethinking National Park Access

Apr 23rd - 11:36am | snochasr

Fine.  Where access must be controlled, like we are doing with reservation systems and lotteries, and "tickets" for ranger-guided tours like Jewel or Wind Caves, continue doing that.  For those that want a ranger-guided tour elsewhere, whether they have to pay for it or just sign up, that's great for them.  For everything else, just post rangers at the most popular sites, like old Faithful etc.

Apr 22nd - 15:29pm | Kurt Repanshek

Thanks Mike. My photo skills are based on luck;-)

Apr 22nd - 14:36pm | Loui

You can control access to the Galipigos, an extremely isolated island chain which requires singificant resources to visit.  A Cave has an entrance.  Most ruins are simliarly accessible from very limited approaches. How you going to keep people in their cars in YELL?

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.