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Reader Participation Day: Which Is Your Favorite "Historical" National Park?

Nov 23rd - 12:31pm | RoadRanger

C&O National Historical Park. Imagine a ribbon of history paralleling the Potomac River from the tidewater at Georgetown in Washington, DC, to Cumberland, Maryland, deep in the Appalachian Mountains. It's 184 miles of social, political and industrial history and geography from pre-Colonial times to the present.

Nov 23rd - 11:37am | Granite

Gotta go with California sites (since I love California) Cabrillo National Monument - A small site with a lighthouse that's easy to explore.  Tidepools nearby and an easy day trip in San Diego

Nov 23rd - 11:09am | Anonymous

I did like Friendship Hill, but for the total experience of the visit, I would have to nominate Fort Bowie NHS in SE Arizona as my favorite.  I'd probably just like it for its general isolation to begin with, but it's so novel that the visitor needs to walk over a mile and a quarter to get to the fort that makes it extremely rewarding when you get there, and the overall setting of the site comp

Nov 23rd - 09:49am | Anonymous

Come back, Albert, we and our country needs you!!!  With just this bit of knowledge I nominate Friendship Hill and Gallatin which blesses (could) the whole Park System if they would resurect his leadership and culture.

Nov 23rd - 09:29am | Anonymous

Another great NPS Historical Site: Celebrating Albert's 250thBirthday, Secretary of the Treasuryhttp://www.nps.gov/frhi/parknews/gallatin250.htm

Nov 23rd - 08:41am | Lee Dalton

You want us to choose only one?  That's as bad as asking us to choose our favorite Thanksgiving day pie.

Nov 23rd - 08:25am | Anonymous

For me, it would have to be Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Back in December of 2003, I was asked by my employer, a cooperating association, to travel to Wright Brothers National Memorial to assist with a very important event that was being held there, the First Flight Centennial.

Nov 23rd - 07:35am | Chip

GETTYSBURG!!!  My aunt and grandmother took me there twice when I was little.  That was when my interest in the Civil War began.  A few decades later, I got my wife interested in the Civil War.  While watching the movie Gettysburg, I looked at my wife and said "I just realized I never took you to Gettysburg."  I took her and our daughter on a whirlwind, one day trip to guage her interest, with

Special Luminaria To Mark Holidays At Mesa Verde National Park

Nov 23rd - 12:03pm | MoabUtah

Too bad that celebration is not occuring during our school break December 19 -30, 2011, so Moab could zip over to take advantage of it. It would be a nice mid-week excursion during the holidays.

Fears Rise That Congress Could Open More Units Of National Park System to Hunting

Nov 23rd - 11:58am | Granite

While I am dismayed at the vague language in the bill, there is some credence to the value of hunting and fishing advocates in the history of the conservation movement.  Remember that both Theodore Rosevelt and Aldo Leopold strongly supported the rights of hunters and fisherman. 

Nov 21st - 12:57pm | Markus

Only in America... I'm speechless.

Nov 21st - 10:05am | justinh

Great point, John.   It's also another of many crazy political non sequiturs.  (i.e. I had no interest in shooting a deer until I learned I could do it here rather than there.)

Nov 21st - 08:32am | John

"... a vehicle to revive Americans' interest in hunting and fishing?"  That is ridiculous.  Anyone can see, without even trying, that interest in hunting and fishing is quite healthy and strong -- perhaps stronger than it has ever been since, for most people, those activities ceased to be necessary for survival.  The statement by one of the measure's sponsers, Rep.

Nov 21st - 05:12am | michael

This is even more insane than the proposed legislation to exempt the Border Patrol in national Parks in Border States. Can you imagine the first time a hunter's bullet strikes the Robert E. Lee or Goerge Meade Statues at gettysburg. Or how about a tour bus window at the Bloody Lane at Antiuetam.

National Park Mystery Spot 31: Walk This Way

Nov 23rd - 10:07am | Bob Janiskee

Congrats to Richp39, who has just honored viewmtn's point. That's two so far. A slow day.

Nov 23rd - 07:44am | Bob Janiskee

Kudos  to viewmtn, who was first to report the correct answer (8:39 a.m.). We'll embargo the answer until tomorrow and let other readers figure it out.

High Water Table, Wetlands Causing Flooding At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Nov 23rd - 08:22am | Wheat

Pardon me SS1, but enterococcus bacteria counts in excess of 200/100ml are considered hazardous to human health and occur in the same waters people drive through, walk through and ride their bikes through. NPS studies conducted in 2005 have shown enterococcus levels at 1184/100ml.

Nov 23rd - 06:14am | SS1

The property in question is a federal fresh water wetland that occasionally spills over on the NPS road, not state land. I believe if NPS mangers diverted that water to an ocean outfall it would be a violation of a number of federal laws and regulations. In any case National Parks are always held to the highest standers when it comes to environmental decisions such as draining wetlands.

Nov 21st - 15:35pm | Wheat

According to the North Carolina Department of Water Quality, with whom I have had extensive discussions on this very subject, it is in fact LEGAL to drain these waters down to keep the road dry and surrounding areas as best as possible such as the campground, fish cleaning table area etc. All NPS needs do is obtain permission to do so which is easily done.

Nov 18th - 16:34pm | SS1

The NPS mangers have this correct. Draining freshwater sedges in a National Park is illegal. 
ORV proponents should pursue constructive alternatives (like raising the road and the campground) rather than draining a productive maritime marsh in a national park. SS1

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Officials Searching For Solution to Non-Native Animals

Nov 23rd - 04:55am | Anonymous

The public should be given the chance to adopt the unwanted animals. Those left should be hunted as this is probably the most effective method, and most economical means of getting rid of the invasive species. It should be combined with fencing, to keep out more of the animals.

Legislation Could Force Bicycles Off Roads In Some National Parks

Nov 22nd - 10:51am | Cliff Leverette

As a cyclist, I don't like being in front of a car that threatens my saftey by becoming impatient with me, for any reason. Usually I will go out and be passed by fifty or more cars in a half hour who are polite and give me a full lane when passing, and stay back a safe distance in case I should have an accident.

Nov 22nd - 10:43am | Cliff Leverette

Let's not completely overgovern ourselves. There are already adequate laws in place to provide for the public safety. It is human error, of which no law can adequately prevent, that is the cause of accidents involving cars and cyclists and pedestrians. When everything is by law made out of nurf in the US, nurf will then be outlawed as being too dangerous.

Nov 22nd - 09:55am | y_p_w

Lee Dalton:

Nov 22nd - 09:15am | Lee Dalton

But on the other hand, Josh, I've had a number of close calls with bicyclists while driving as they shoot through stop signs, suddenly pop out of a driveway, or when another car is forced into my lane when they have to pass a bike.  Then there are the bicycle riders who ride inside the auto travel lane even though there is a very wide paved shoulder with ten to fifteen feet of space to the righ

Nov 21st - 23:35pm | y_p_w

I was once an avid bicyclist. I had and still have a pretty sweet road bike and a few decent mountain bikes. I always wore a helmet and followed every traffic law.

Nov 21st - 18:57pm | tom343

As one who rides a bicycle today and has riden a bike since 1951, terror tactics of bikers on the streets of New York City prove that enough cyclists disregard pedestrians saftey to cause non-bikers to want to curtail biking, especially where walkers, wheel chairs, scooters and the like use the same paths the bikers want to use. And so far as the bikers using roads cars, etc.

Nov 21st - 14:26pm | Josh

Actually, in most of the U.S., bicycle are allowed on Interstate shoulders.  They're safer for cyclists than surface streets, for the same reasons surface streets are safer than most paved trails -- better engineering, better sight lines, fewer intersections, less cross-traffic.

Nov 21st - 09:56am | David Crowl

On one hand, I hate being behind a bicyclist that is not going the speed limit and will not let you pass. On the other hand, I bet they feel the same way on a trail with pedestrians. They do not allow bicycles on the Interstate Hiways either. Maybe widening the road by adding a Bike lane where possible and leaving the regulation alone would be best.

Yellowstone National Park Officials Reviewing Proposal To Boost Lodging At Old Faithful

Nov 22nd - 08:03am | Anonymous

Most assuredly won't be funded by Xanterra, I believe.  It's my view that if Xanterra did finance the construction it would most likely give them leverage in their contract negotiations making it a requirement for any competitive bidder to purchase their equity as part of their bid.

Nov 21st - 22:08pm | Anonymous

"...who would pay for the proposed dormitory..."  Um, duh, this is entirely benefiting Xanterra, so Xanterra should foot the bill.  Besides, if you put it in the NPS budget (with all the congressional chopping going on in the near future) it would be comleted sometime between 2112 and the end of days!

Nov 20th - 12:19pm | RangerLady

After seeing the type of housing Xanterra puts their employees in, I'd feel sorry for the Yellowstone employees if they were forced into a dorm (although I don't know what it's like to live in the cabins). My fiance works for Xanterra and the dorm situation is horrible.

Nov 19th - 09:47am | ecbuck

Ironic that this comes on the heels of the "Vital Signs" report reflecting concerns of over crowding at YNP

Nov 18th - 19:24pm | Anonymous

When you plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park, do it early, and you will not have a problem.  Leave the park as it is!

Nov 18th - 13:26pm | Lee Dalton

There was a campground at OF back in the 1960's and before.  But when the new four lane "Interstate Highway" bypass was built, the campground was paved over.

Nov 18th - 12:42pm | Anonymous

A campground would make too much sense.  NPS is into buliding huge buildings designed with the largest footprint available (new OF VC, "Justice" Center, Heritage and Resource Center).  Also, the YNP experience is made sweet by having a core group of people that have lived here for years, investing their lives for little pay.

Nov 18th - 10:23am | stormy

Have they considered putting a campground or RV park (a la Fishing Bridge) near OF instead?  I would think it would be less expensive & may free up some lodging.  I've always been curious as to why there is no camping available in the OF area, since all the other 'village areas' have a campground. Can anyone enlighten me?

Nov 18th - 09:15am | James Milligan

I really like it when the park service sticks to their mission of preservation.

NPCA Officials Lament Congress' Failure At Deficit Talks, Possible Impact On National Parks

Nov 21st - 20:57pm | Anonymous

Might be a good time for those in the Senior Executive Service to send some of their Congressional level incomes on down the line to those boots on the ground that keep the parks running.  Come on Unions, it's time.  It's a different world for a reason.  

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is Established by Presidential Proclamation

Nov 21st - 15:06pm | Stan Cohen

The paragraph on KIska in the Aleutians. The US and Canadian forces who retook the island suffered no casualties from enemy troops in the invasion as the Japanese had evacuated the island 2 weeks before. 29 Allied troops were killed however by friendly fire, to be real accurate.

NPCA Report Calls For Stronger Efforts To Protect Chesapeake Bay And Its Watershed

Nov 21st - 10:15am | RangerLady

When I worked out in the bay area, I became so concerned with the health of the Bay that I focused on it for all my graduate work that year. The infomation I found was scary. The oyster population is now at only 1% of its historic levels. And the main culprit is runoff, mostly from chicken farms.

Visitation Down At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nov 21st - 05:19am | michael

"They speculated that the decline might be related to a combination of a flat economy and higher fuel prices"...

Clinton Birthplace Home Needed New Roofs

Nov 20th - 21:47pm | J Longstreet

No doubt the buildings needed the attention, but let's not forget that this site came into the National Park System last year with no additional funding. Hence the project money spent to replace these roofs was in lieu of some other critical needs in the NPS Midwest region. It's a zero sum game. J Longstreet a national park superintendent

NPCA Report Paints Somber Portrait Of An Underfunded National Park Service

Nov 20th - 16:46pm | Lee Dalton

Ranger Lady -- I'll have to disgree a bit with your assertion that a "majority" of people (I'm thinking you mean Utah people) hate the NPS.  Based on my experience, it seems they are probably a rather small group of loud people who hate anything Federal because some of what the Feds do may interfere with some of their specialized interests.

Nov 20th - 15:05pm | RangerLady

Lee I understand your frustration with our Utah legislators. Last time I wrote to one of them I recieved a scalding letter back completely bashing my beliefs. It also doesn't help that the majority of people out here hate the NPS so I'm sure the state legislators recieve many more letters against us.

By the Numbers: Homestead National Monument of America

Nov 20th - 15:48pm | jessstryker

As fall comes the tallgrass praire at Homestead turns a sepia tone and takes on a different type of beauty.  This photo was taken a few weeks ago, in late October of this year while hiking the Upland Prairie Loop Trail through the tall grass praire.  The Heritage Center and Education Center can be seen in the distance.

Nov 18th - 11:11am | Jill

Beatrice is, indeed, a great little town. An old-fashioned main street, with plenty of lodging and restaurants on the outskirts. Homestead National Monument is located approx 40 miles south of Lincoln, NE or 90 miles southwest of Omaha. After spending the night in Beatrice last May, I drove west on the Heritage Highway (U.S. 136) to Red Cloud, the hometown of Willa Cather.

Nov 18th - 08:37am | Lee Dalton

I had the privilege of visiting HOME (what a fitting abbreviation) in 2009.  It was a delightful experience.  I had planned to spend just a few hours there and then move on, but discovered I needed a full day.  Exhibits in the VC are fascinating and filled with more than just facts.  They tell a story of people just like us who faced some incredibl

The Case of the Indian Trader: Billy Malone And the National Park Service Investigation At Hubbell Trading Post

Nov 19th - 11:12am | Liz Ross

It is too bad that Mr. [size= 14px; line-height: 18px]Berkowitz compromised his professionalism by profitting upon his poor investigation.  He did not contact all parties.  The Park Service should reopen the case.[/size]

Adopt A Yellowstone National Park Bison For The Holidays

Nov 17th - 20:32pm | Anonymous

If my bison is hazed into Brogan or Stephens Creek and tests positive for Brucelosis and is sent to the meat market can I get my money back?  Or is my Bison replaced with another one?   Oh wait, sorry, they're plush toys...my bad.   Actually a cute idea.  Should be a popular program for the park.

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