It's been nearly 225 years since Congress called for lighthouses "beacons, buoys and public piers" to be built for the safety of the public and seafarers. You can celebrate that occasion, which fell August 7, 1789, by visiting one of the many lighthouses across the National Park System.

You don't normally associate barn swallows with Redwood National and State Parks, but in fact the birds do show up there, and even like to nest in the park as the following video relates so well.

How strong is the market for uranium? Is nuclear energy a key component of the nation's energy future? How many jobs would be created by allowing mining of uranium around the Grand Canyon National Park? Those are some of the questions to consider as the House of Representatives moves to vote on a measure that could allow the mining to proceed.