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National Park Week Sign Photos: Then And Now

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Published Date

April 22, 2018
Shenandoah National Park entrance, 1968/Lawrence Repanshek

My first national park sign pose/Repanshek family

It is, for many, a necessary ritual whenever they arrive at a national park: take a photo in front of the park sign. 

During a recent family gathering, one of my brothers passed around some long-forgotten photos, including one of him and me and our mother posing in front of the North Entrance to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. The photo was from so long ago -- September 1968 -- that black-and-white was the film of choice and my memory couldn't recall standing there on the sign's rock foundation. 

I can also say that the photo-taking ritual never really took much hold with me. And that's disappointing, as it would have been a great way to track my national park travels (not to mention my aging and the change of fashions!).

The last sign pose I stood for was a few years ago when my youngest son, Sean, and I traveled to Lassen Volcanic Natonal Park and Crater Lake National Park.

So tell us, travelers, and even show us, how well have you documented your national park travels with shots of you and park signs?

Lassen Volcano National Park sign/Sean Repanshek

 

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Comments

Submitted by JanetinNoKy on April 23, 2018 - 11:22am.

I LOVE to take a photo by the sign.  Yes, it shows evolving fashion and weight but also the weather and where we were on a given day.  We use a digital picture frame for our favorite shots and the sign ones ALWAYS make the frame.


Submitted by Kellie E on April 24, 2018 - 12:59pm.

I too love to take a photo of each park sign.  Without exception (and there has to be a good reason why) they are the first photo I take (and last if you leave a different way).  

 


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