Despite the iconic image of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad that was sealed with a golden spike hammered into a laurel railroad tie, the closing weeks of the engineering feat were frenzied.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in North Carolina remains closed due to impacts from the closing fury of Hurricane Helene. The closure includes all trails, park grounds, and facilities. The park will re-open once damage assessments have been made and the park is deemed safe for visitation.

Help shape the future recreation opportunities at Taggart Lake, Grand Teton National Park.

Simple wire fencing — miles of it — is being used at Mojave National Preserve in California to protect Desert tortoises, a threatened species, from being runover by vehicles.