Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in cooperation with the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society, will offer a 3-hour stargazing program in Cades Cove on Saturday, April 2, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Experienced astronomers and numerous telescopes will be on hand to provide a discovery of the spring sky’s position of stars, galaxies, and constellations, including the Milky Way.

Judging from last year’s head count in the National Park System—a record 307.2 million—you can pretty much be assured that many parks will be even more crowded this summer as the National Park Service Centennial is celebrated.

A soaring new 3D IMAX film premiered recently, showcasing the wonders of national parks from Katmai in Alaska to Everglades in Florida. Narrated by none less than Academy Award® -winner Robert Redford, the film was created by the National Park Service and Brand USA in honor of the Park Service’s 100th anniversary and is airing here and in 60 countries around the globe. Intended to showcase the best of our nation, the film falls woefully short as critics have pointed out, because it features only athletic, young white Americans recreating in pretty places.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, an art exhibit at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., will showcase some of the plant species and communities found throughout the more than 400 national parks.