National Parks Traveler

October 13, 1936, marked the creation of Boulder Dam National Recreation Area and a brand-new category of management units for the National Park Service. The recreation area no longer exists by its original name, but its legacy continues in one of the most heavily-visited parks in the country. During their first 30 years the park and the dam underwent more name changes than the rock entertainer formerly known as….

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By Jim Burnett - October 13th, 2008 3:00am

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Park History: Obed Wild and Scenic River

Obed Wild and Scenic River, which preserves one of the best whitewater rivers in the eastern United States, is tucked away in the wilds of Morgan and Cumberland Counties in Tennessee. Having been established on October 12, 1976, the park celebrates its 32nd birthday today.

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By Chance Finegan - October 12th, 2008 6:11pm

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Body of Man Missing in Shenandoah National Park Found Outside Park

The body of a man who went missing during an outing in Shenandoah National Park has been found outside the park.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 12th, 2008 10:29am

Part of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Lands on National Register of Historic Places

Great Lakes fishing history has led to a segment of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore being named to the National Register of Historic Places.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 12th, 2008 8:06am

Yorktown Day – Our Country's "Other Birthday"

Our nation will celebrate its 227th birthday on October 19, 2008, in Yorktown, Virginia—and you're invited to the party! "Whoa, not so fast," some of you may be thinking; what happened to the Fourth of July?

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By Jim Burnett - October 12th, 2008 5:03am

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Imagine the Impacts of Climate Change on the National Park System

Imagine Yosemite National Park without Yosemite Fall. Or Glacier National Park without glaciers. Or Old Faithful becoming less faithful. Across the National Park System, the effects of climate change could be quite dramatic.

sap4-4-final-report-Ch4-Parks.pdf

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 12th, 2008 4:47am

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First Ladies National Historic Site Struggles to Attract Visitors

First Ladies National Historic site, which was established on October 11, 2000, has a prime location. Nevertheless, the Canton, Ohio, park attracts scarcely more than 10,000 visitors a year. Why is that, and does it really matter?

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By Bob Janiskee - October 11th, 2008 1:45pm

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Musings from Yosemite National Park

There arguably is no national park that better showcases geology than Yosemite National Park. Sure, Arches National Park offers more arches in one place than anywhere else on the planet, and Grand Canyon National Park has that incredible gouge. But stand before Half Dome or El Capitan and you can't help but marvel.

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By Kurt Repanshek - October 11th, 2008 4:05am

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Now “Thirtysomething,” Big Thicket National Preserve Has Matured Nicely

On October 11, 1974, Congress grafted a new and controversial branch onto the National Park System family tree by creating the first two National Preserves – Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas and Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. Big Thicket, like its Florida cousin, is now a nicely maturing “thirtysomething” park with a lot of visitor appeal.