Podcasts by Americas National Parks Podcast

Vandalism and Capitalism vs Historical Artifacts: Defacement in the NPS from 2023-12-07T00:16:16

The defacement at National Park sites goes beyond graffiti, and each layer peeled back raises more questions about what destruction is vs. what a historical artifact is. Somewhere in between the...

Christmas in Yellowstone from 2023-12-01T11:43:13

For this holiday season, we thought it’d be great to revisit short stories we told way back in 2018 about magical Christmases in America’s first national park. Hear the splendor of the holidays ...

A Dream of Peace from 2023-11-22T22:05:25

At the 125th anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg, Nearing the end of the Cold War, famous scientist Dr. Carl Sagan would re-dedicate the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. The speech, co-written ...

National Park News | Park Reservations in ’24, a Daring Whale Rescue, and More from 2023-11-16T21:57:57

From the reintroduction of timed entry systems at Arches, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks for 2024 to the National Park Service's commitment to increasing female representation in law...

The Vehicles of Yellowstone from 2023-11-09T22:41:52

Imagine the crunch of rock and the creak of leather, the clatter of horse hooves against the stone, and the warm breeze that carries the scent of pine through the open plains. You're not just st...

Dinosaurs in Situ from 2023-11-06T12:04:57

In the northeast corner of Utah, the westernmost entrance to Dinosaur National Monument welcomes visitors along the banks of the Green River, the road separated from the water by desert scrub fo...

Discovering The Bighorn from 2023-10-25T23:54:55

Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Montana and Wyoming, Bighorn Canyon is a testament to nature's artistry and the relentless force of time. Carved by millennia of water erosion from the Bi...

Changes to Park Passes, Grizzly Attack, Fossil Find,&More | National Park News from 2023-10-12T20:32:13

On this month's national park news round-up, a big change is coming to national park passes — beginning in January, the Annual Pass will only have one signature line. We have all the details, pl...

All Lincoln All the Time from 2023-10-01T22:01:21

From birth to death and many intermediate milestones, the National Park Service leads us on an odyssey along the timeline of Lincoln’s life, political career, achievements, and legacy, weaving a...

Hopewell — America’s Newest World Heritage Site from 2023-09-20T18:23:04

The most recent session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is taking place right now in Saudi Arabia, and it was just announced that they are inscribing the 25th World Heritage Site in the U...

Death Valley Closed for Weeks, Crack in Yosemite, Hiker Found by Webcam, and More | National Park News from 2023-09-13T20:43:20

In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the disastrous effects of tropical storm Hilary at Death Valley National Park, a 200' crack that has appeared on a popular climbing ro...

Consumption in Mammoth Cave from 2023-09-07T08:55:27

Inside Mammoth Cave, people notice that the air seems surprisingly fresh and that their allergies disappear like magic. Observations such as these have been noted for centuries at least. In 1839...

Riding the Rails to Nature’s Wonders: National Parks by Train from 2023-08-29T22:46:04

From the allure of the Orient Express to the daily grind of commuter trains, rail travel has always captured our imaginations. But did you know you can journey to some of America's most iconic n...

The Secret Spy History of Camp David | Catoctin Mountain Park from 2023-08-23T22:25:30

Catoctin Mountain Park is one of those National Park Service units that doesn't fit into any category, but its importance in American history could not be any greater. It's home to the famed pre...

2 New NPS Units, Lost in Death Valley, Plane Crash in Denali from 2023-08-16T20:59:23

In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the new National Monuments, one remembering Emmett Till and the other protecting the area surrounding the Grand Canyon. Plus, two men ...

Secret Cities from 2023-08-09T01:11:33

As the world experiences Christopher Nolan’s new film, Oppenheimer, the world is taking a new look at the development of this great and terrible weapon under the organization of the Manhattan Pr...

The Importance of...the Butt from 2023-07-28T23:36:35

Set against the backdrop of rolling hills in western Wyoming, Fossil Butte National Monument, like so many other parks, presents a variety of activities. But one exhibit shares the fascinating s...

The Kennedys and the Promise of a Better Future for Those Living With Disabilities from 2023-07-23T01:14:11

At the close of the 2019 visitor season, the JFK National Historic Site closed its doors, the collections were safely secured, and the site prepared for an extensive facelift. The plan involved ...

Yosemite Traffic Nightmare, Slew of Deaths in National Parks from 2023-07-12T23:50:46

In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the difficult situation at Yosemite, where the timed-entry reservation system is gone for the first year since 2019, causing huge traf...

Women Trailblazers of the National Park Service: Stories of Courage and Conservation from 2023-06-21T23:33:14

Embark on an exploration of the remarkable women who blazed trails within the National Park Service. Join us as we delve into the lives of Betty Reid Soskin, Dr. Beatrice Willard, Florence Basco...

Two for the Price of One from 2023-06-14T14:20:49

Arizona conjures up images of desert washes, enormous saguaro cacti with arms stretching to the sky, and endless sunshine regardless of the season. But if you travel north to Flagstaff, the envi...

National Park News: Pot Farms Keep Cropping Up In Death Valley National Park from 2023-05-31T10:11:30

In this month's national park news roundup, we're covering all the delayed openings and closures caused by the unprecedented winter snowpack in the West. But it's not all bad news — lakes Mead a...

Yellowstone After the Floods from 2023-05-21T15:00:15

In June 2022, the rivers of Yellowstone's Northern Range unleashed a devastating flood, shattering century-long records and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. This natural disaster not ...

Escape from Alcatraz from 2023-05-12T01:08:06

This week, we're setting sail for Alcatraz, the infamous island prison once deemed inescapable. But in 1962, three men dared to challenge this notion and embarked on a daring escape that continu...

Lesser Known Founding Fathers from 2023-05-03T14:06:51

In this episode of America's National Parks, join host Jason Epperson as we delve into the lesser-known figures of American history and the National Park Service sites dedicated to their lives a...

National Park News | Yosemite Braces for Floods, Condors Get Bird Flu, and More from 2023-04-26T20:44:33

In this episode, we share the news about upcoming closures at Yosemite National Park due to flooding concerns from snowmelt. Plus, Death Valley goes cashless, condors are dying from a new bird f...

Scaling the Heights: The Evolution and Impact of Rock Climbing in Yosemite from 2023-04-24T21:48:27

Dive into the rich history of rock climbing in Yosemite National Park, from its pioneering beginnings to its modern status as a world-class climbing destination. In this episode, we explore the ...

The Mysterious Disappearance of Everett Ruess: Artist, Adventurer, and Enigma from 2023-04-16T22:32:11

Join us as we explore the enigmatic life and mysterious disappearance of Everett Ruess, a young artist, poet, and adventurer who vanished without a trace in the remote wilderness of southeastern...

Nature’s Open Door: Unlocking Accessible Adventures in National Parks from 2023-04-03T20:42:23

Discover the beauty of accessibility at America's National Parks in this episode. From scenic drives and picturesque vistas to innovative adaptive activities, we dive into the wonders of nationa...

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act from 2023-03-30T01:50:02

A new bill in the U.S. Senate is poised to make major changes to federal lands recreation. In this episode, we have all the details.  Find the press release, along with the full text of the bil...

The Mysterious Lives of Northern Elephant Seals from 2023-03-18T19:26:09

This episode of America's National Parks Podcast delves into the fascinating world of the Northern Elephant Seal, including its near-extinction in the 1800s due to overhunting and the subsequent...

Agate Fossil Beds from 2023-02-28T22:01:02

In the grassy High Plains of Northwest Nebraska, the landscape is punctuated by flat top buttes, and a few isolated landforms reminiscent of the badlands. A layer of sandstone builds the foundat...

The History of North American Elk in our National Parks from 2023-02-20T00:25

On today’s episode of America’s National Parks, the comeback story of North American elk.

Written By Dr. Charlotte Hacker Audio Editor and Theme Music: Peter Xiong Host: Jason Epperson Listen

National Park News: 2023 Parks Budget, Daring Helicopter Rescue from 2023-02-06T23:24:16

In this month's news roundup, the National Park Service has set its budget priorities for the year, including repairs from last year's extreme weather events and prevention measures to help keep...

Assateague - Beyond the Ponies from 2023-01-17T20:44:06

In the stillness of winter, the waves still roll in and out, in and out, slicking the sandy shore of Assateague Island, a narrow thirty seven mile long barrier island which spans both Maryland a...

Behind The Scene’s of Netflix’s ”Our Great National Parks” from 2022-04-11T19:43:23

Today on America’s National Parks, the new Our Great National Parks Series premiering April 13th on Netflix, and how these wonderful nature documentaries get made. Our guests are Executive Produ...

The Women of Lowell from 2022-04-04T19:53:07

The dizzying thrum of the water-powered textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts drowns out everything else. It is, in a word, deafening – so much so that the floor of the mill vibrates with inten...

The House on Brattle Street from 2022-03-28T18:47:57

Decades before Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would call the house on Brattle Street home, a General, tasked with leading the nation to freedom, would take up residency, and an enslaved couple would...

National Park News | New Mask Rules, Fewer Humpbacks, Missions Damaged,&a New Nat’l Historic Site from 2022-03-21T17:15:18

In this month's national park news roundup, we share info about the newest unit in the National Park Service system, the Amache National Historic Site. Plus, we cover things you might want to kn...

Discovering Yellowstone from 2022-03-15T21:05:14

150 years ago, the National Park idea was born, in a place called Yellowstone. That idea was helped along in part by a painter, Thomas Moran, who brought images of early Yellowstone exploration ...

Steamtown and Pheobe Snow from 2022-03-03T01:29:15

In the heart of Pennsylvania coal country, trains had their heyday. As freight transportation matured beyond the canals of the early industrial days, railroads became the predominant means of mo...

Ansel Adams from 2022-02-20T00:24:20

For all of the heroes of the National Parks we’ve covered on this podcast over nearly 200 episodes, it’s a wonder we haven’t spent time with a photographer who brought the beauty, grandeur and s...

National Park News | 2021 Visitation Shatters Records, New Park Reservations, a First for USS Constitution from 2022-02-13T09:01:41

Welcome to this month's "News from the Parks" our monthly roundup of top stories from the National Parks. The official overall NPS visitation number has yet to be released, but some parks have a...

Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct from 2022-02-11T22:20:19

In the 1800s, the Lackawaxen region of the Upper Delaware River was a bustling area, punctuated by industrial transportation. The canal era provided access to water transport where there was no ...

Imprisoned at Fort McHenry from 2022-01-12T22:41:45

Right at the end of the outcropping where the Patuxent River meets the Baltimore Harbor sits a star-shaped fort that had been instrumental in the War of 1812, and which led to the writing of our...

Changes to National Parks in 2022 from 2022-01-06T10:33:19

Will you need to make a reservation when you visit a national park this year? America’s 400+ National Park Service sites have seen a surge in visitation during the pandemic, and it’s expected th...

Weir Farm from 2021-12-13T00:28:04

In Connecticut's only National Park Service site visitors have an experience unique in the system — a place to create art, steeped in over 100 years of tradition. 

National Park News | New NPS Director, 19% of Giant Sequoias Gone in 2 years, Hiker Remains Found After 38 Years from 2021-11-28T23:03:34

It's time for this month's National Park News episode. The National Park Service has a new director, fires have killed up to 19% of giant sequoia trees in California in just two years, the body ...

Mary Colter and the Grand Canyon from 2021-11-20T01:58:38

One of the very few women architects of her time, Mary Colter blended her lifelong love and respect of Native American arts and rustic elements with a fierce perfectionism: all to create a beaut...

Badlands Symbiotic Species — Prairie Dogs and Burrowing Owls from 2021-11-03T02:55:59

Beneath the rolling grasslands of Badlands National Park lies an intricate housing system and social network. Black-tailed prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows in the prairie dog towns, ...

What Makes a National Trail? from 2021-10-21T00:38:48

In this episode, a park superintendent Aaron Mahr tells us what makes a national trail special, and difficult to manage. 

National Park News | Monuments Restored, Sequoias Destroyed, Mammoth Grows, Wolves Killed, White Sands Discovery,&More from 2021-10-10T15:21:39

Welcome to this month's "News from the Parks" our monthly roundup of top stories from the National Parks.

Climate Change and Glacier National Park from 2021-09-29T23:55:35

If you dare, dip your feet into the icy water of St. Mary Lake. The glacier-fed water adds a new twist to the term “refreshing.” It’s one of many sensory experiences at a park that attracts more...

A Music Mecca from 2021-09-23T02:26:48

Joshua Tree National Park in southern California encompasses parts of both the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. This unique ecosystem conjures images of the iconic trees, desert washes, wondrous bou...

Songs of Joshua Tree from 2021-09-14T00:51:39

Nestled between the San Bernardino and Coxcomb Mountains lies the confluence of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, where the wind rushes through the rocks and valleys. At night it’s the only sound...

New NPS Director, More than Half of Lassen Burned | National Park News from 2021-09-06T00:48:39

There's a newly nominated candidate for NPS Director, a position that has been vacant for more than 4 years. Meanwhile, well over half of Lassen Volcanic National Park has been burned by the Dix...

Novarupta from 2021-08-28T14:31:45

In early June 1912, residents of southeast Alaska began to feel earthquakes daily. Earthquakes are common in this region, which is well-known for its geologic instability, though these were gett...

Mary Kwart: Wildland Fire Pioneer from 2021-08-18T14:19:12

As fires rage across the west in what will likely be the worst year for wildland fires on record, brave people face them head-on, to save our structures and our lives. The fraternity o...

Sea Turtles of Cape Hatteras National Seashore from 2021-08-12T21:38:40

Under the light of the moon, shelled creatures emerge from the ocean and make their way onto the sandy shoreline. They drag their bodies through the sand until one by one, they stop. Each migran...

Hottest Days, Terrible Tourists, Flash Floods, and Masks (again) | National Park News from 2021-08-03T14:19:44

Hottest days on record, new mask-wearing requirements, Congress has hearings on park crowding, lightning strikes several visitors to the Grand Canyon, and a whole slew of terrible park visitors....

La Casa Nevada — Yosemite's Snow House from 2021-07-27T10:11:12

Situated within the spray of the picture-perfect Nevada Fall stood a pioneer hotel that, for almost 20 years, welcomed guests to Yosemite National Park. Named La Casa Nevada or The Snow House, o...

National Park of American Samoa from 2021-07-19T12:04:07

The sun can rise and set on this island nation in the middle of the Pacific. Known for its rainforest paradise and tropical reefs, these islands were originally settled by Polynesians more than ...

News from the Parks | 300 Rock Cairns, 200-foot Cliff Face Breaks, and 1 New Peregrine Falcon from 2021-07-04T08:10:01

A flash flood tears through Zion, Karens build Cairns in Petroglyph, endangered frogs are gettin’ it on without any assistance in California, Grand Teton gets one BIG Teton of a new dump truck, ...

Sleeping Bear Dunes from 2021-06-28T00:33:46

If you've never been there, when you think of Michigan, you may not imagine miles of sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and bluffs that tower more than 450 feet above one of the four Great Lakes t...

The Carriage Roads&Bridges of Acadia National Park from 2021-06-16T00:46:12

Winding through Acadia’s forests and mountains are 45 miles of historic roadways that are only for pedestrians, bicyclists, horseback riders, and carriages. These roads were carefully designed t...

National Park News | Record Crowds, Biden's Budget, a Grim Anniversary from 2021-06-07T00:15:43

Yellowstone and Grand Teton shatter April attendance records, Zion sees a four-hour wait for its most popular hike, Biden’s 2022 budget sees the largest appropriation for the National Park Servi...

Buffalo Bird Woman from 2021-06-02T12:43:35

In the middle of North Dakota, one of the least visited states in the nation, sits one of the smallest and least visited National Park Service Sites. It’s the place where Earthlodge people, the ...

Synchronous Fireflies in the Smokies from 2021-05-24T20:37:24

In 1680, one of the earliest Western accounts of coordinated fireflies flashing was recorded by a Dutch physician while traveling down the Meinam River in what is now Thailand. He wrote, “A whol...

Spring Migration in the Parks from 2021-05-16T23:02:50

Point Reyes National Seashore has recorded more than 450 species of birds, including 38 that are threatened or endangered. There are multiple factors that make it such a popular and birdy destin...

Restore Hetch Hetchy from 2021-05-09T21:24:21

It might not be common knowledge that the Yosemite Valley one of the crown jewels of the American landscape, known for towering natural splendor in its pristine condition, has a sister valley, w...

Driverless Shuttles, Murder in Hot Springs, Pike Trail | National Park News from 2021-05-02T21:56:52

Driverless National Park Shuttles are being tested, a new national trail is proposed, a homicide at Hot Springs, and more.  It’s time for this month’s news round-up episode of the America’s Nationa...

Kalaupapa from 2021-04-25T22:34:02

In the late 1800s, Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy) was reaching epidemic proportions in the Hawaiian islands. Bacteria cause nerve damage in patients and can lead to crippling of the ha...

National Parks That Need Entry Tickets or Reservations for Summer 2021 from 2021-04-17T20:18:10

Some National Parks will require entry reservations this summer — in this episode, we'll tell you which ones, and break down all the details.

The Day it Rained Rocks from 2021-04-14T00:03:13

It was, literally, earth-shaking; so much so that a seismometer thousands of miles away picked up the vibrations. It contained enough force to push debris a mile under water, heaving it uphill o...

Protecting Alaska for Generations to Come from 2021-04-08T00:13:40

One of the most significant land conservation measures in our nation’s history was an act that protected over 100 million acres of land, doubled the size of the country’s national refuge system,...

Yellowstone Boosts Cell Service, Glacier East Opens, Condors Return to Redwood | National Park News from 2021-03-28T20:18:26

A collared Yellowstone wolf has been killed...by the governor of Montana, Yellowstone is seeking to improve communication services, Glacier National Park has re-opened the East entrance after ov...

Community Science in National Parks from 2021-03-21T23:12:10

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are spending their free time counting birds, measuring water quality, or monitoring pollinators. They may also be counting asteroids, c...

The Battle of Bunker Hill from 2021-03-16T07:27:06

On June 17, 1775, New England soldiers faced the British army for the first time in a pitched battle. Bloody fighting took place throughout a hilly landscape of fenced pastures that were situate...

Restoring the Everglades from 2021-03-08T00:01:59

One and a half million acres of shallow-water marine habitats, freshwater marshes and prairies, saltwater wetland forests, and pine and hardwood forests provide refuge for threatened and endange...

100.Years of Hot Springs, New Filming Rules | National Park News from 2021-02-28T00:16:02

Visitor statistics have been released for 2020, and visitation to parks was down about 1/3, thanks to park closures. There's a new National Park Service app, new rules for anyone taking video in...

Scandal and Special People of Effigy Mounds from 2021-02-20T21:45:05

More than a thousand years ago in the Upper Midwest, indigenous people were moving mountains—literally. The Mound Builders changed the landscape by piling earth into tall shapes that could only ...

100 Years at Mount Rainier from 2021-02-15T01:30:36

This week on America's National Parks, a great mountain of the west, and conservation lessons learned over the course of a century. 

Digging Up Dinosaurs from 2021-02-05T23:38:19

Much of the western United States was once blanketed in hundreds of feet of sand. The unforgiving sun beat down on the landscape for 20 to 30 million years during the early Jurassic period. Thin...

Mask Mandate, Commercial Filming Permits Struck Down | National Park News from 2021-01-30T18:47:31

It's time for this month's "news from the parks" episode. Today, we cover President Biden's new executive order requiring masks-wearing on federal lands, and a landmark ruling from a judge strik...

Wolves of Isle Royale from 2021-01-26T23:43:59

With wolves decreasing at Isle Royale, the moose population could decimate the forest and vegetation communities. Neither species is native to the island, but a multi-agency wolf translocation s...

Little American Island from 2021-01-16T23:56:10

Swirling between the borders of Canada and Minnesota is a vast maze of interconnected water highways – a wild space comprised of lush forests and isolated islands. Its history is fueled by the N...

St. Croix Heroes and Mussels from 2021-01-10T02:12:58

In the heart of our nation lies a riverway that has been federally protected for more than 50 years and stewarded by Native Americans for thousands of years before that. ItThis river carried log...

The Steel Driving Man from 2021-01-05T20:33:39

If you take the time to stop in West Virginia's New River Gorge, our newest national park, and listen, you may hear intertwined within the sound of birdsong, flowing water, and the wind billowin...

Our 63rd Park | National Park News from 2020-12-28T00:39

New Lava eruptions in Hawaii have people doing dangerous things, a harrowing evacuation of the records of two national parks in danger of being lost to wildfire, and our 63rd National Park. 

Surviving Winter in the National Parks from 2020-12-20T01:51:23

This week on America’s National Parks, we journey to Gates of the Arctic, Yellowstone, and Glacier for three stories of survival from the wildlife that call them home: Arctic Ground Squirrels, B...

Medgar Evers from 2020-12-13T23:02:54

Shortly after midnight on June 12, 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated in the carport of the home that he shared with his wife Myrlie and their three young children in Jack...

Humpbacks from 2020-12-06T01:10:40

Mountains that tower over beaches, temperate rainforests, ice fields, tidewater glaciers, and marine depths welcome the visitors that make the trek to visit this off-the-beaten-path destination....

The Obelisk from Nowhere, Park Projects Funded, $270 Million Lawsuit | News from the Parks from 2020-11-30T00:48:10

Hiking has arguably become the most popular activity in 2020, but as more and more people take to the trails, rescues are on the rise in National Parks putting a strain on resources, In Utah, a ...

Pipestone from 2020-11-22T23:15:26

The “peace pipe,” as it’s often called by those who only know it as a symbol of the hundreds of peace treaties signed between the federal government and Native American tribes, is a valued tradi...

Wild Horses from 2020-11-15T22:39:57

There are about 60,000 free-roaming horses in North America, and while we call them “wild,” they more accurately fit the definition of feral, which means they are free-roaming descendants of dom...

Ring, Grandfather, Ring from 2020-11-09T01:41:11

 Too often we look at our symbols and see them as the enduring legacy of our past, when in reality, symbols have always been mirror for us to reflect our current moments in, in order to inform o...

Changes to Free National Park Admission,World's Longest Fossilized Footprints | National Park News from 2020-10-31T09:09:18

The world's longest fossilized footprint tracks have been uncovered in the White Sands of New Mexico, the National Trail system has grown by more than 1300 miles, two YouTubers are fined $1000 f...

Nevermore from 2020-10-26T00:03:26

When you ask Americans to list some of our country's most famous poets and short story tellers, you’ll rarely hear mention of one of the most well-known authors of all time. Perhaps it’s because...

Marconi from 2020-10-19T00:14:08

National Park sites, even the natural ones, have seen many uses over the history of America, often due to the unique features that make them worth preserving in the first place. From its thunder...

Second Century Camping from 2020-10-12T00:47:21

On last week’s episode, we took a look at early road planning and design in the parks, and we’re continuing with the theme this week, by looking at the history of National Park Campgrounds. 

A Tale of Two Roads from 2020-10-03T23:33:04

As the National Park idea began to inspire Americans far and wide, a major problem arose: how to provide safe access to these often wild and dangerous places, especially as the automobile began ...

New NPS Units, Bears, Rescues, and Fires | National Park News from 2020-09-27T00:46:54

It's time month’s News from the Parks episode of the America’s National Parks Podcast, where we round up the latest happenings at America’s Greatest Treasures. On this episode, we have 2 new Nat...

Leave No Trace (or...How to Poop in the Woods) from 2020-09-20T09:30:42

This week we learn about reducing impact on the environment when visiting National Parks and other public lands, along with a lesson on what to do when nature calls out on the trail from rangers...

The Million Dollar Room from 2020-09-15T00:33:13

In Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin sits an unassuming store, one that's lasted for nearly all the park's human history. It's famed owner wallpapered his office in the most unusual...

Wolverines, an Overturned Tanker, and a $500,000 Fine | National Park News from 2020-08-29T09:05:22

A man gets jail and a $500,000 fine for sneaking into Canada’s National Parks during the coronavirus, a tanker truck overturns in Yellowstone, a veritable novel is graffitied onto a popular ligh...

Parks During a Pandemic from 2020-08-24T22:57:57

It's now clear we’re dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic for the long haul, and instead of just staying inside, many Americans are wanting to figure out how to recreate responsibly. And what c...

90 Years in the West from 2020-08-16T23:21:05

On the border of utah and colorado sits a place where the wild rugged land has been used for centuries to carve out a modern human existence, long before it was found to contain the world’s grea...

News From the Parks: New NPS Funding, Strange Blue Squares at Zion, Cuyahoga Dams Removed from 2020-08-10T01:24:45

It's time for another "News from the Parks" edition of the podcast. This week, we'll learn about how the funds from the Great American Outdoors Act will be used, how the Cuyahoga River is flowin...

The Complexities of Climate Change from 2020-08-02T01:18:10

Today on America’s National Parks, we travel to California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon, where decades of research show us how the world is changing, and help us to figure out what to expect next....

Pullman from 2020-07-25T23:14:38

Perhaps no city in the United States exceeds Chicago in the number, breadth, intensity, and national importance of labor upheavals. One of our most recent national park service sites celebrates ...

Sand Creek from 2020-07-11T20:47:40

As far as atrocities against Native Americans by westerners, it’s hard to pick the worst. But there’s one that certainly ranks up there. Surely the horrific, predawn mass murder of at least 150 ...

News from the Parks | Big Bend Closes, Yosemite Cancels Reservations from 2020-07-04T08:23:13

On this month's "News from the Parks" episode, we talk about new closures, even as most parks have reopened. Plus, a new, 6-year celebration of America's 250th birthday kicks off in the parks. 

Hey Bear! from 2020-06-27T01:38:14

On average, there are only one or two non-lethal bear "incidents" in a given year at Glacier National Park. And there have only been 10 bear-related fatalities in the history of the park (all of...

The Green Table from 2020-06-21T00:51:37

About 1,400 years ago, long before Europeans explored North America, a group of people living in the Four Corners region - where today Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet - chose what i...

The Great American Outdoors Act from 2020-06-13T21:09:03

On today's episode, we explore the pending legislation entitled the "Great American Outdoors Act" with Pew Charitable Trusts' Marcia Argust. The act promises to reduce the $12 billion maintenanc...

The Nine from 2020-06-07T01:20:59

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that segregation in the public schools of the nation was unconstitutional. One of the first...

News from the Parks | National Parks Adjust to a New Normal from 2020-06-01T01:12:53

As summer begins, the National Park Service is instituting phased reopenings at many parks across the country, allowing visitors various levels of access to amenities. Meanwhile, park officials,...

The Life of a Canine Ranger from 2020-05-23T08:56:01

Every fall in one of the largest national parks in America, visitation slows to a near halt by the end of September. The ground is already covered with golden aspen leaves and the mountaintops a...

How a National Park Becomes a World Heritage Site from 2020-05-18T01:36:02

While exploring National Parks, Monuments and historic sites across the country, you may have noticed gigantic plaques in a few of the visitor centers, designating them as UNESCO World Heritage ...

The Great Humanitarian from 2020-05-09T23:27:26

Herbert Hoover had been president for less than a year when the stock market crashed. At the next election, he was swept out out the white house and out of public life as a scapegoat that would ...

White Nose Syndrome from 2020-05-02T14:28:03

The National Park Service manages 84 million acres, in 419 parks, 1 in 4 of which have caves, and 1 in 3 of which have mines. Many of these caves and mines provide habitat for hibernating bats.<...

National Park Week Throwback Thursday: Other Great National Park Podcasts from 2020-04-23T01:32:11

This week, we're doing something a little different. It's National Park Week, and we're teaming up with other National Park podcasters, authors, bloggers, and other content creators to celebrate...

Dust of the Earth from 2020-04-18T01:25:13

Known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks," legendary naturalist John Muir was far ahead of his time, holding ideals that many are just coming around to.

Angel of the Battlefield from 2020-04-11T02:48:12

In this difficult time in the world, we look to heroes from our past as inspiration to help us find the resolution to possess even a small fraction of their helping spirit. Clara Barton's life's...

The Return of the Wolves from 2020-04-05T11:51:45

In the battle for conservation and the protection and reinvigoration of endangered species, one animal serves as a symbol to remind us of what we've done as a human race, and how we have the res...

Oh Shenandoah from 2020-03-28T02:45:04

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., is an escape to recreation and re-creation. Cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, and quiet wooded hollows - 200,000 acres of protected lan...

News from the Parks | March 2020 from 2020-03-23T13:24:05

As travel restrictions, shelter-in-place orders, and closures to all but the most essential services sweep the country, the National Park Service has been caught in the middle of wanting to prot...

Going to the Sun from 2020-03-14T02:05:17

Only a few miles of rough wagon roads existed within Glacier National Park when Congress established the park on May 11, 1910. Many people, including the first Park Superintendent, William R. Lo...

Wilderness of Rock from 2020-03-09T03:31:49

337,598 acres of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires in the heart of southeast Utah's high desert. A land where water and gravity are the prime architects, sculpting layers...

Prometheus from 2020-03-05T00:23:13

In the far west, you can find one of the oldest living organisms in the world. A tree that can live for thousands of years due to its ability to survive whatever is thrown at it. 56 years ago, t...

News from the Parks | February 2020 from 2020-03-02T09:48:51

This month's news round-up features the temporary closing of Mount Rainier, annual visitation numbers in the park system, and concerns about the coronavirus affecting businesses in and around Ye...

101 Years Apart from 2020-02-15T02:01:15

This past Wednesday, Grand Canyon National Park's Interpretive Rangers lowered the flag in honor of one of their own. A ranger who lived and worked at Grand Canyon National Park for the past 20 ...

A Lasting Impact from 2020-02-08T08:56:58

The contributions of immigrants to our great nation are undeniable. Some of our greatest institutions were literally built on the backs of immigrants of all stripes. Our national parks are no ex...

News from the Parks | January 2020 from 2020-02-02T08:24:36

Welcome to January's "News From the Parks" episode of the America's National Parks Podcast, our monthly show where we round up for you the latest info about happenings at America's Greatest trea...

What Makes a National Park? from 2020-01-26T02:13:08

The National Park designation has become one of the most prestigious terms in the English language. National parks have stirred the imagination of Americans ever since they were dreamed up, and ...

National Park Passes Explained from 2020-01-18T02:00:51

It's the time of year where people around the world are planning their adventures to America's National Parks, and we thought this would be the perfect time to explain one of the things we most ...

The Black Canyon from 2020-01-11T12:44:39

The deep canyons of the west enchant us today as much as they did those who dared to explore them for the first time. They're all unique in their own ways, as nature seems to brag about the incr...

The Great Prairie Highway from 2020-01-04T01:10:47

It was an international road for American and Mexican traders, until 1848, when the Mexican-American War ended, and New Mexico joined the United States. It became a national road for commercial ...

News from the Parks | December 2019 from 2019-12-28T17:16:43

This month, there's a new national park in the system, fees are increasing at parks around the country, invasive species are threatening the park system, the Narrows trail at Zion will be protec...

Wolf Trap from 2019-12-21T12:06:46

Today on the America's National Parks Podcast, the vision of a D.C. socialite to develop and share a love of the arts with the community set to the backdrop of nature. Wolf Trap Nationa...

Treasure in the Sea from 2019-12-14T08:46:29

Today, Channel Islands National Park and the original 1982 "Treasures of the Sea" park film. Now in retirement, this version was replaced in 2011 with the currently running film featuring narrat...

Valley Forge from 2019-12-07T01:25:06

On December 19th, 1777, 12,000 weary revolutionary war soldiers and 400 women and children marched into what would be their winter encampment. They began to build what was essentially the fourth...

News from the Parks | November 2019 from 2019-11-30T08:43:09

This month we have news of a cold case that's haunted the park service for over 40 years, an expansion of Rocky Mountain National Park, a National Park Service TV drama in development, and whole...

Toward a Dark and Indefinite Shore from 2019-11-23T19:45:05

After the Civil War ended with the surrender at Appomattox, Abraham Lincoln waited two days to speak. He opened, "we meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart." Lincoln was look...

A Prescription for Fire from 2019-11-15T19:29:34

From a seed no bigger than one from a tomato, California's coast redwood may grow to a height of 367 feet and have a width of 22 feet at its base. Imagine a 35-story skyscraper and you have an i...

The Legacy of 3 Million from 2019-11-09T02:55:12

If you've spent a decent amount of time in National or State parks in the U.S., you've probably been in a building built by a federal program that employed nearly 3 million people during the mos...

The Sound of Geology from 2019-11-02T13:44:18

One of our most visited National Parks averages more than a half-million visitors per month in the summer, who flock to see massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a bril...

National Geographic's Jon Waterman from 2019-10-29T22:28:55

Adventurer Jon Waterman is the award-winning author of several books on the American landscape, including several on the wilds of Alaska and the conflicts surrounding the Colorado River. His new...

News from the Parks | October 2019 from 2019-10-26T00:39:44

Welcome to the October "News From the Parks Episode" of the America's National Parks Podcast, our new monthly series where we round up for you the latest info about happenings in America's Great...

Spooky Yellowstone from 2019-10-19T00:33:24

National Parks play roles in all kinds of American legends, and Yellowstone, our first park, is no exception. It's October, time to dust off the ghost stories and feast on three short pieces of ...

The Great Unknown from 2019-10-12T02:49:18

In the summer of 1869, an expedition embarked from The Green River Station in the Wyoming Territory and traveled downstream through parts of the present-day states of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona...

Gateway to the West from 2019-10-05T02:11:34

Halfway down the mighty Mississippi, a model of engineering greets the world to the Gateway to the West, St. Louis Missouri. The Gateway Arch is known worldwide; it's probably only second to the...

News from the Parks | September 2019 from 2019-09-28T11:39:32

With over 420 sites in the NPS, every month offers a new opportunity to Find Your Park. And while we strive to focus on the stories that make these places so special, we also think keeping up-to...

The Old Northwest from 2019-09-25T00:34:19

In the town of Vincennes, Indiana, stands the largest Beaux-Arts style monument on an American battlefield and outside of Washington, DC. It sits on the former site of Fort Sackville to commemor...

The Search for Dark Skies from 2019-09-16T19:09:06

80 percent of the world’s population lives under what’s called “skyglow.” In the United States and Europe, 99 percent of the public can’t experience a natural night. Light is helpful to people, ...

Ahwahnee from 2019-09-09T21:47:15

Who doesn't love a majestic National Park lodge? Splendid craftsmanship on a grand scale surrounded by the wonders of nature. Some lodges are full of just as many stories and secrets as the park...

Castle on the Coast from 2019-09-01T22:01:47

Situated along the shores of St. Augustine in northeastern Florida stands the only surviving 17th-century military construction in the United States, Castillo de san Marcos. On this episode, the...

10 Days, 1,800 Miles from 2019-08-21T23:12:41

For 18 short months, a group of riders carried letters from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, and they did it in just 10 days. Crossing 1,800 miles of rough western terrain, at br...

The Waving Girl of Savannah from 2019-08-09T09:53:11

The Savannah river twists and turns for 301 miles in the Southeastern United States, forming most of the border between Georgia and South Carolina, before it's divided into channels by several i...

The Voice of Wilderness in the Storm from 2019-08-02T00:05:37

In the early days of what is now Denali National Park and Preserve, one park scientist stood out among the rest. He was known for his tough, adventurous spirit, ground-breaking biological resear...

Restoring the Giants from 2019-07-25T23:59:44

Awe-inspiring giant sequoia trees are among the largest living things on earth, but the opportunity to experience them is rare. Approximately 75 groves exist, and only along the southern Sierra'...

Rangers Make the Difference III from 2019-07-19T00:46:28

Being a National Park Service Ranger is a multifaceted job, one that requires you to call on all your skills to bring a park to life. Whether it be through music, research, education, conservati...

Lincoln's Throne from 2019-07-12T00:18:06

For more than 100 years, no national memorial had been contemplated for any president except George Washington, yet talk of building one to honor the monumental legacy left by Abraham Lincoln be...

238,900 Miles from Idaho from 2019-07-06T01:38:07

50 years ago, in 1969, NASA sent astronauts to a remote location in southern Idaho. Their goal? To learn basic geology and study the local, relatively recent volcanic features located there in p...

A $50 Bet from 2019-06-29T01:03:21

Rising high above the prairies west of the Blackhills stands a tower of astounding geological feature. Considered sacred by indigenous people, it's an impressive and striking monument against th...

Meaningless Without Sacrifice from 2019-06-23T23:44:27

The Emancipation Proclamation has been called one of the two most important American contributions to the world by Martin Luther King, Jr., yet was said to possess "all the moral grandeur of a b...

Alone on a Winter's Island from 2019-06-14T00:00:25

Nestled at the top of Wisconsin sits a cluster of islands on Lake Superior that is home to what some call the finest collection of lighthouses in the country. Guiding the way for ships on Lake S...

On the Oregon Trail from 2019-06-10T08:12:17

The first covered wagons would carve a trail towards Oregon Country in 1836. Among them was a missionary party headed by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Narcissa kept a journal at the suggestion of...

"We were standing on Ground Zero of World War III" from 2019-05-30T22:32:23

During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles was placed across the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain to...

Cataloochee - The Center of the World from 2019-05-24T00:23:43

Nestled among some of the most rugged mountains in the southeastern United States is an isolated valley that was home to 1200 people in 1910, who made their living first at farming, and then, as...

A Presidential Barbecue from 2019-05-17T00:37:54

Barbecued meat has played a surprisingly important role in United States presidential politics over the years. George Washington was a Virginia-style barbecue enthusiast. Recently, archaeologist...

River on Fire from 2019-05-09T23:26:36

In 2007, a young bald eagle took flight from its nest along the Cuyahoga River. It was the first successful nest in Cuyahoga County in more than 70 years. The eaglet grew up eating fish from the...

Guardian of the Gulf from 2019-05-03T02:16:06

When we think of America’s National Parks, we often don’t think of the oceans or the Gulf of Mexico, but along our shores are some of the most incredible places our country has to offer. Seven ...

A Race to a Tie from 2019-04-26T00:02:48

On May 10th, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, two sets of ordinary railroad tracks met under extraordinary circumstances. Together the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies, buil...

The Strange World of National Park Gift Stores from 2019-04-19T00:36:56

When we think about the people that help keep the gears turning in National Parks, it’s easy for us to think about the wonderful rangers that keep us safe and help us interpret and protect these...

The Night the Mountain Fell from 2019-04-12T01:10:38

The Yellowstone Supervolcano snores through the geysers and mud pots, and restlessly tumbles as multiple earthquakes hit the region nearly every day. We don't hear a lot about Yellowstone earthq...

A Rescue in the Grand Tetons from 2019-04-05T01:22:40

Mountain climbing is surely one of the most dangerous of the extreme sports. It’s a trial of wills that takes a clear head, teamwork, and unflappable trust in your climbing partners. The challen...

Apostle of the Cacti from 2019-03-29T00:33:05

If you're a National Park buff, and you probably are if you're listening to this podcast, you probably know of some of the famous people responsible for the very creation of many of our greatest...

9:02 A.M. from 2019-03-22T10:41:12

24 years ago, a Ryder truck packed with nearly 5,000 pounds of explosives was parked in front of Oklahoma City's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. In a matter of seconds, the blast destroyed mo...

Rover from 2019-03-15T00:30:54

On December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his famous “Day Of Infamy Speech." The United States had entered World War I...

"Goodbye, Death Valley." from 2019-03-08T01:17:10

In 1848, gold was discovered in California and people from all over the United States packed their belongings and began to travel by wagon to what they hoped would be a new and better life. It w...

A Century of Progress from 2019-03-01T20:55:10

Surely if you listen to this podcast you've heard the news — America now boasts 61 National Parks. Buried within a massive spending bill protecting public lands signed by the President on Februa...

Four Voices, Four Missions from 2019-02-22T01:03:02

The Alamo is certainly San Antonio’s most famous landmark, perhaps even the most famous building in Texas, because of its pivotal role in the 1836 Texas Revolution. But the Alamo was built over ...

A Great Obelisk from 2019-02-15T20:47:31

In 1833, a small organization formed with the purpose to fund and build a monument "unparalleled in the world," in honor of once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first Presiden...

Fighting on Arrival, Fighting for Survival from 2019-02-09T02:13:30

During the Indian conflicts on the western plains after the Civil War, Native Americans gave Black regiments of the U.S. Army the name Buffalo Soldiers, after their...

The Chestnut Blight from 2019-02-01T01:06:41

At the turn of the 20th century, the eastern half of the American landscape looked very different than it does today. It was blanketed in 4 billion towering American Chestnut trees. Over the cou...

The Great Smoky Homestead from 2019-01-25T00:45:08

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, where ancient mountains, covered in pine, glow in purple, pink and blue hues, as a smoky mist rises from the...

Rangers Make the Difference II from 2019-01-18T01:11

As we release this episode, the longest government shutdown in American history is still underway, and 800,000 government workers are on furlough, including rangers and other protectors of our w...

A White House Burns from 2019-01-11T00:57:40

One of the very symbols of our nation is a residence for our highest elected official, designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the neoclassical style, using sandstone painted white. When...

A Rocky Mountain Tragedy from 2019-01-04T02:03:42

There are a million conspiracy theories about people missing or turning up dead in National Parks and other public lands. But really, when you break down the numbers, the number of disappearance...

A Gift from Tokyo from 2018-12-28T00:49:27

Each spring, an abundance of winter-weary locals and tourists flock to our nation's capital, hoping to see the blossoming beauty of the famed Japanese cherry trees. You may know that the origina...

Kitty Hawk from 2018-12-21T02:51:29

Otto Lilienthal was a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the "flying man." He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful flights with gliders. Photographs of ...

An Impossible Climb from 2018-12-14T00:13:15

In July of 1982, 5 men set out to conquer the highest peak in Texas, Guadalupe Peak at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Every day, many people take the 8.5-mile trip that summits the 8,749' pe...

77 Years Ago from 2018-12-07T00:54:20

The day this episode is released, December 7th, 2018, marks the 77th anniversary of the event that would send the United States into World War II, the devastating surprise attack on Hawaii's Pea...

The Solitude of Self from 2018-12-01T22:15:52

On July 11, 1848, a local newspaper ran an advertisement announcing a meeting that would happen a week later at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York — the first American Women’s Rights ...

A Yellowstone Christmas from 2018-11-23T00:40:58

What could be more magical than Christmas at a National Park lodge? Grand log-beamed lobbies, decked out in real pine trimmings, the crackling of massive stone fireplaces, and decadent holiday f...

The Lost Horse Mine from 2018-11-16T00:30:09

Even before the California Gold Rush of 1849, prospectors were finding gold in Southern California. As the rewards from the mines in the Sierras began to wither, miners headed toward the deserts...

Four Men on a Mountain from 2018-11-09T02:08:12

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are said to tell the story of the birth, growth, development ...

Switchbacks from 2018-11-02T04:29:59

Before dawn on what would become a perfect October day in Utah, I set out to attempt a solo hike. It wasn't the type of hike that would have been a big deal to an avid hiker, but for me, it was ...

Hell, with the Fires Out from 2018-10-26T01:52:53

It’s that time of year. You’re getting pelted with the supernatural from every direction - on TV, at the Movie Theater, in the grocery store. Far be it from us to miss an opportunity ...

How National Parks Stop Thieves from 2018-10-18T23:57:10

If you listened to The Curse of the Petrified Forest, our episode on the strange happenings surrounding people who stole rocks from Petrified Forest National Park, you know that the p...

At Home with Harry and Bess from 2018-10-12T00:43:28

On this episode of America's National Parks, At Home With Harry & Bess, the multigenerational story of a home that would come to be known as the Summer White House, now a part of the Harry S Tru...

The Wonderful Wind Cave from 2018-10-04T23:50:58

In 1881, Jesse and Tom Bingham heard a whistling noise coming from a beach-ball-sized hole in a rock formation near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Wind was blowing out of the hole, just a...

Corps of Discovery Part 2 from 2018-09-27T20:48:46

When we left off last time Meriwether Lewis had just looked over the crest of the largest mountain range he had ever seen (or summited), hoping to see the Columbia River, and an easy path to the...

Corps of Discovery from 2018-09-20T21:28:07

In 2018, America is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act as well as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The 1968 National Trails System Act created and protected trails...

His Name Was Mudd from 2018-09-13T21:16:10

On a Sunday in November of 1864, John Wilkes Booth first made the acquaintance of Dr. Samuel Mudd. The men discussed a horse sale, and Booth was invited to spend the night at Mudd's home. On Dec...

Stories from the Sands from 2018-09-07T00:29:35

One of the world's great natural wonders rises from the heart of New Mexico's Tularosa basin. Great wave-like dunes of baby powder-like gypsum sand engulf 275 square miles of desert. Towering mo...

A Strenuous Holiday from 2018-08-30T23:02:48

In 1914, four influential men — Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs — loaded their automobiles with camping gear and embarked on the first of several historic road tri...

America's Spa from 2018-08-23T22:25:20

In the mountains of western Arkansas, there's a place where rain waters are absorbed through crevices in the earth's surface, then warmed and enriched with minerals, percolating deep underground...

The Sleeping Volcano from 2018-08-17T01:05:15

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted — it was the "deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States," according to the National Oceanic and Atm...

Ballads of Big Bend from 2018-08-09T21:39:32

The shape of the southwestern edge of Texas is carved by The Rio Grande river, as it tranquilly flows bringing life to some of the most remote regions of the country. Here, the Rio takes a giant...

Rangers Make the Difference from 2018-08-02T22:07:21

July 31st of each year is set aside by the International Ranger Foundation as World Ranger Day to honor park rangers around the globe who are on the front line in the fight to protect our natura...

The 14th Colony from 2018-07-26T23:04:04

Everyone knows America's legendary origins — 13 colonies fighting off the tyranny of the British Empire to form our Union — but did you know there was, if only for a brief time, an extra-legal 1...

The Land That Made a President from 2018-07-19T20:31:08

On his 22nd birthday, in 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married Alice Hathaway Lee. Their daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt, was born on February 12, 1884. Two days after his daughter was born, his wife a...

Unleashing a Tamed River from 2018-07-12T21:28:48

Over the past century, the United States has led the world in dam construction. There are at least 90,000 dams over six-feet tall in this country and over 2 million shorter than six feet. More t...

Acadia National Park and the Year Maine Burned from 2018-07-05T19:08:27

Strange weather patterns set in 1947 in the state of Maine, as a quick and early spring thaw preceded months of endless rain. Finally, at the end of June, the sun broke through the clouds as tem...

The Gateway to Arizona from 2018-06-28T12:34:15

If there's one place in our travels that has seemed a nearly hidden gem -- a place where hardly anyone goes, yet is full of incredible beauty -- it's the confluence of the northern tip of Grand ...

Alcatraz and the Civil War from 2018-06-21T08:25:40

In the late 1840s, the U.S. government seized control of California from the Republic of Mexico and immediately went to work on protecting the new land. Located in the middle of the San Francisc...

The Curse of the Petrified Forest from 2018-06-13T14:15:42

In a small section of the painted desert of Arizona, you can find forests of crumbled trees, preserved as stone. Over 200 million years ago, these large conifers were uprooted by floods, then wa...

Drunken Subterranian Terrorism from 2018-06-06T20:46:46

Elevators might seem like a strange topic for a National Park Podcast, but today we're going to talk about a special elevator. In 1931, the National Park constructed what was then the second hig...

Dred and Harriet Scott from 2018-05-31T11:12:59

On April 6th, 1846, Dred and Harriet Scott walked into the unfinished St. Louis Courthouse in downtown Saint Louis, Missouri, and in an act of bravery, filed separate petitions against Irene Eme...

Legends of Denali from 2018-05-23T23:58:36

In 1896, the highest summit in America was named by a gold prospector in support for then-presidential candidate William McKinley, who became president the following year. Of course, for centuri...

Lady Liberty from 2018-05-16T22:45:49

The Statue of Liberty stands out in New York Harbor, bearing her torch, welcoming tourists and immigrants with the American spirit of Liberty. Her story is complicated, and many apocryphal tales...

Delicate Arch, and the Strange 1950s Schemes to Reinforce It from 2018-05-02T12:11:24

There's one natural rock arch that's known better than all others in the US, in fact, it's on the state of Utah's license plate. It had its own postage stamp, and the 2002 Winter Olympics torch ...

Muir, Roosevelt, and Yosemite: A Camping Trip That Changed the World from 2018-04-25T15:43:44

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt ditched his secret service detail to go camping in the woods of Yosemite with celebrated naturalist John Muir. Through his writings, Muir taught the importa...

California Condors from 2018-04-17T21:58:58

How do you save a species of bird with a population of 22 living? A controversial plan hatched nearly three decades ago has condors soaring over Pinnacles National Park again. How they did it, a...

An Island Prison from 2018-04-10T15:17:23

If you only know the name Geronimo from the call that paratroopers in old war movies and Bugs Bunny cartoons shout, it's a nickname bestowed upon a Native American hero by Mexican sol...

The Voyageurs from 2018-04-03T23:09:46

On the northern shores of Minnesota lies a remote waterscape steeped in history, nature, and tradition. Named for the wild men who paddled its waterways in the Canadian fur trade, Voyageurs Nati...

Pirates and Parks from 2018-03-27T11:10:40

Piracy, the act of seizing a ship or its cargo from its lawful owners, has been a plague since people first set sail on the high seas. By the Elizabethan Era, English piracy entered a Golden Age...

37 Days in Yellowstone from 2018-03-21T22:14:05

Two years before the creation of our first National Park, Truman Everts got lost in Yellowstone. He lost not one, but two horses. He set not one, but two forest fires. He waited out a mountain l...

The Grand Dame of the Everglades from 2018-03-13T14:56:29

At the southern tip of Florida lie the Everglades, a crucial ecosystem to America and the world. Everglades National Park has spent its entire life under siege, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas out...

Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar from 2018-03-06T01:16:44

Deep within Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, one can find so much more than rock formations. The shale-capped mass of 400 known miles of caverns holds the history of America, told by the B...

From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream Waters from 2018-02-26T23:39:39

Welcome to the America's National Parks Podcast. In the coming weeks, we'll begin to explore our nation's treasures, their history, their people, and their stories. Until then, listen to this, o...