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Review | The Power Of Scenery: Frederick Law Olmsted And The Origin Of National Parks

The origin story of America’s national parks goes like this: during the Lincoln administration, fearing that the recently “discovered” wonders of Yosemite Valley would be defiled as Niagara Falls had been, and the “Mariposa Big Tree Grove” logged, federal legislation created what would eventually become Yosemite National Park, though as author Dennis Drabelle notes, the word “park” never appeared in the law.

National Park Service Proposing Expanded Backcountry Access At Wupatki National Monument

Public input is being sought on a draft backcountry management plan for Wupatki National Monument, which protects ruins from an ancient civilization that cultivated a living from a site in present-day northern Arizona that evolved into a regional trading center of sorts before being abandoned after about 300 years.

A Year In The Parks: From Fort Laramie To Hawai'i Volcanoes

There is no doubt that the park system has issues that must be tackled, from crowds and air-tour noise to cracked concrete, eroding trails, and not enough interpretive rangers to explain the wonders. But take the time to explore these places -- truly explore, not simply count coup with a selfie -- and it's hard not to come away in awe.