A new year is a fresh start. It is a chance to try a little harder and be a little better. And the holiday season wouldn't be complete without sharing these intentions. As the calendar turns to 2014, National Park Service employees take a minute to reflect on the past and make plans for next year. Check out their resolutions -- some serious, some silly.
“We send our best wishes to all national park fans across the country,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We hope your resolutions for the new year include a visit to one of America’s 401 national parks!”
What's your resolution for 2014? Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Experience America's Best Idea: National Park Getaways this week features Lava Beds National Monument
The largest volcano in the Cascade range, Medicine Lake, erupted hundreds of times over thousands of years pouring lava from more than 200 vents and flowing through hundreds of lava tubes, the cataclysmic events forming the volcanic playground that makes up the park today.
Today you can explore these now cooled lava tubes, caves, and the now frozen-in-time red-hot lava eruptions that spread out across the park. At Captain Jack's stronghold you can visit where the Modoc Chief - though outnumbered by 10 to 1 - held off the US Army in the middle of winter for five months during the Indian Wars of 1872-1873.
"Despite the apparent isolation of Lava Beds National Monument, people have dwelt here for millennia." Taylor continues. "For more than 10,000 years, humans have lived in the area, from ancient peoples, to the Modoc, to settlers and homesteaders. Evidence of these peoples can be found throughout the monument, such as ancient carvings at Petroglyph Point, paintings at Symbol Bridge, and the writings and litter of early explorers like J.D. Howard."
World famous birding hotspot, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge is also nearby, and an easy day trip from the park's campground, where you can see thousands of migrating ducks, geese, and other birds.
To learn more visit the Lava Beds website.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
National Parks to offer free admission on nine days in 2014
WASHINGTON – Circle the dates on the calendar and plan your trip –
America’s 401 national parks will offer free admission on nine days in
2014, including several holidays!
The 2014 entrance fee-free days are:
“America’s national parks welcome more than 280 million visitors a year. To say thanks for that support and invite every American to visit these treasures that they own, we are declaring nine days of free admission next year,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Whether it’s that once-in-a-lifetime family trip to Yellowstone or taking a daily walk along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., or the moment at Central High School that your child suddenly understands what civil rights are all about, national parks offer places for unforgettable experiences.
“National parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value; they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation. Visitor spending represents a $30 billion annual benefit to the national economy and supports more than 250,000 jobs,” said Jarvis. “Fee-free days are a great way to both thank those visitors and introduce parks to first-timers who can find a new place to call an old favorite.”
With more than 84 million acres of spectacular scenery, 17,000 miles of trails, 5,000 miles of shoreline, 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures, and 100 million museum items and an infinite number of authentic American stories to tell, national parks offer something for every taste.
Those in search of superlatives will find them in national parks including the country’s highest point (in Denali National Park) and lowest point (in Death Valley National Park), deepest lake (Crater Lake National Park), longest cave (Mammoth Cave National Park), tallest trees (Redwood National Park), and highest waterfall (Yosemite National Park).
Normally, 133 national parks charge an entrance fee that ranges from $3 to $25. The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for things like camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.
Other Federal land management agencies that will offer fee-free days in 2014 are: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. Please contact each for details.
The National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service also participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programs. These passes provide access to more than 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, grasslands, and other federal lands. Four passes are available:
The 2014 entrance fee-free days are:
· January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
· February 15-17: Presidents Day weekend
· April 19-20: National Park Week’s opening weekend
· August 25: National Park Service’s 98th birthday
· September 27: National Public Lands Day
· November 11: Veterans Day
“America’s national parks welcome more than 280 million visitors a year. To say thanks for that support and invite every American to visit these treasures that they own, we are declaring nine days of free admission next year,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Whether it’s that once-in-a-lifetime family trip to Yellowstone or taking a daily walk along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., or the moment at Central High School that your child suddenly understands what civil rights are all about, national parks offer places for unforgettable experiences.
“National parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value; they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation. Visitor spending represents a $30 billion annual benefit to the national economy and supports more than 250,000 jobs,” said Jarvis. “Fee-free days are a great way to both thank those visitors and introduce parks to first-timers who can find a new place to call an old favorite.”
With more than 84 million acres of spectacular scenery, 17,000 miles of trails, 5,000 miles of shoreline, 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures, and 100 million museum items and an infinite number of authentic American stories to tell, national parks offer something for every taste.
Those in search of superlatives will find them in national parks including the country’s highest point (in Denali National Park) and lowest point (in Death Valley National Park), deepest lake (Crater Lake National Park), longest cave (Mammoth Cave National Park), tallest trees (Redwood National Park), and highest waterfall (Yosemite National Park).
Normally, 133 national parks charge an entrance fee that ranges from $3 to $25. The entrance fee waiver does not cover amenity or user fees for things like camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.
Other Federal land management agencies that will offer fee-free days in 2014 are: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. Please contact each for details.
The National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service also participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programs. These passes provide access to more than 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, grasslands, and other federal lands. Four passes are available:
· free annual pass to current military members and their dependents
· free lifetime pass for people with permanent disabilities
· $10 lifetime senior pass for those aged 62 and over
· $80 annual pass for the general public.
Click here for more information.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Explore the ruins of this 18th century settlement at Fort Frederica National Monument
By Denise Spear, cultural resource specialist, Fort Frederica National Monument
On the serene, isolated west shore of Georgia’s St. Simons Island, the ruins of an 18th century settlement stand as quiet testimony to a once-flourishing community. A powder magazine overlooks Frederica River, a remnant of British occupation in the New World.
Oglethorpe's vision in establishing Frederica was rewarded in
1742 during the War of Jenkins' Ear, when Spanish forces from Florida
and Cuba landed on St. Simons Island. Oglethorpe's attack on a Spanish
reconnaissance party at Gully Hole Creek led to the battle at Bloody Marsh.
Despite the name, casualties were light, and the Spanish continued
their campaign on St. Simons. Clever deception on Oglethorpe's part
convinced the Spanish to retreat from Georgia seven days later.
After the war, the British regiment disbanded, leading to the eventual decline of the civilian population and the town itself. Two centuries of fire, neglect, and the reuse of building materials left the fort and town of Frederica nearly barren. Few structures remained to tell the story.
Archeological investigations, begun in 1947, have uncovered the broad outlines of Frederica and many small treasures left behind by residents of this short-lived community. Using 18th century maps and journals as a guide, archeologists have unearthed many sections of the fort and town site. The resulting excavations provide great insights into Frederica's past.
Today you can stroll through the ruins of the former town site,
marvel at the huge trees covered in Spanish moss, and wander the grounds
for a glimpse into Frederica's past and colonial history.
Stop by the visitor center, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, to pick up the park brochure and explore museum exhibits and artifacts. The 23-minute film, “History Uncovered,” shares a good overview of the park. Be sure to ask about the free audio tour before you set out on any self-guided exploration.
The Bloody Marsh Unit
of the park commemorates the site where the 42nd Regiment of Foot and
Highlanders from Darien defeated a regiment of Havana Grenadiers. This
battle was deemed essential in ending the Spanish claim to Georgia. This
area, on St. Simon's Island along Demere Road, is open from 8:30 am to 4
pm.
Centrally located on St. Simons Island, Fort Frederica is about an hour and a half drive from either Savannah, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida. The archeological remnants of Frederica are protected by the National Park Service. The park is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Fort Frederica offers tours, programs, and events throughout the year. Click here for more details on the park and its activities.
All photos courtesy NPS.
On the serene, isolated west shore of Georgia’s St. Simons Island, the ruins of an 18th century settlement stand as quiet testimony to a once-flourishing community. A powder magazine overlooks Frederica River, a remnant of British occupation in the New World.
Fort Frederica was established in 1736
by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new Georgia
colony from the Spanish in Florida. The excavated foundations of
structures remind visitors that the planned community of Frederica
served the military garrison quartered there and housed a population of
1,000 from 1736 to 1758.
After the war, the British regiment disbanded, leading to the eventual decline of the civilian population and the town itself. Two centuries of fire, neglect, and the reuse of building materials left the fort and town of Frederica nearly barren. Few structures remained to tell the story.
Archeological investigations, begun in 1947, have uncovered the broad outlines of Frederica and many small treasures left behind by residents of this short-lived community. Using 18th century maps and journals as a guide, archeologists have unearthed many sections of the fort and town site. The resulting excavations provide great insights into Frederica's past.
Stop by the visitor center, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, to pick up the park brochure and explore museum exhibits and artifacts. The 23-minute film, “History Uncovered,” shares a good overview of the park. Be sure to ask about the free audio tour before you set out on any self-guided exploration.
Centrally located on St. Simons Island, Fort Frederica is about an hour and a half drive from either Savannah, Georgia, or Jacksonville, Florida. The archeological remnants of Frederica are protected by the National Park Service. The park is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Fort Frederica offers tours, programs, and events throughout the year. Click here for more details on the park and its activities.
All photos courtesy NPS.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, California
By Elizabeth Tucker, lead park ranger, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Celebrate the “can do” spirit of the American home front at
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. The
park includes many significant historic sites located throughout the
city of Richmond, California, just across the bay from San Francisco.
You'll find several options for exploring the rich history of this area. Take a hike or ride a bike along the San Francisco Bay Trail, join a ranger for an in-depth tour of the park, explore the Richmond shoreline by boat/kayak, or discover the incredible stories of the World War II home front workers through exhibits at the visitor education center.
The best way to start your journey is at the recently opened visitor education center. Two award winning orientation films introduce multiple stories of 1940s America and the massive mobilization effort to support the military during World War II. The park has an on-going museum project to collect and preserve the artifacts and stories of the Rosies, the women who worked in non-traditional jobs to support the military effort, and other civilians who worked or volunteered in America during World War II.
Meet several of these inspiring Rosies on almost any Friday at
the visitor education center where they share their stories and
experiences. Attend an unforgettable program with ranger Betty Soskin
who relates her WWII-era experiences as a young African American woman
working in a segregated union office during the war. Ranger Soskin's
program starts at 2 pm on most Tuesdays and Saturdays. On Thursdays at 2
pm, the park hosts a film about the experiences of Richmond's Japanese American families who were forced into internment camps during the war.
Just a one-mile walk from the visitor education center, or a short drive, is the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. The memorial was created by a group of local people dedicated to preserving the history of the Kaiser Shipyards. Their efforts to create this massive public art project helped lead to the establishment Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, dedicated on October 14, 2000, the same day that the Rosie the Riveter Memorial was finished.
Visit historic Shipyard #3, the only remaining shipyard of the
four built during the war. This yard, now the working Port of Richmond,
is the only place to see Kaiser Shipyard structures from the World War
II era. Many people drive to the end of the road to climb aboard the Red
Oak Victory Ship, but you'll also find a parking lot at the entrance to
the shipyard, and an overlook trail that winds up the hill for spectacular views of the bay.
Volunteer docents at the Red Oak Victory ship will take any adventurous visitors on a tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. Scramble up and down the steep ladders inside the last remaining of the 747 ships built in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards during the war. On the bridge of the ship, the docent might blow the loud air horn and or show how the merchant marines communicated with the engine room on the brass telegraph.
The Maritime Child Development Center, owned by the park's friends group, the Rosie the Riveter Trust, has been fully restored and is once again a school for neighborhood children. One of the classrooms, made available to the National Park Service, has been filled with the actual furniture used by children in the 1940s and displays exhibits about the important role these child care centers played in supporting working mothers during the war.
Other World War II park sites are still under development, such as the historic Kaiser Hospital, Richmond's Fire Station #6, and the Atchison Village Mutual Homes Corporation. These buildings can be seen from the outside, on a self-guided auto tour or on a monthly ranger-guided bus tour (be sure to reserve a seat ahead of time).
There are so many ways to enjoy and explore this national historical park. Please call (510) 232-5050, ext. 0; seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm if you have any questions not answered on our website. We look forward to seeing you in the park! Read more here.
You'll find several options for exploring the rich history of this area. Take a hike or ride a bike along the San Francisco Bay Trail, join a ranger for an in-depth tour of the park, explore the Richmond shoreline by boat/kayak, or discover the incredible stories of the World War II home front workers through exhibits at the visitor education center.
The best way to start your journey is at the recently opened visitor education center. Two award winning orientation films introduce multiple stories of 1940s America and the massive mobilization effort to support the military during World War II. The park has an on-going museum project to collect and preserve the artifacts and stories of the Rosies, the women who worked in non-traditional jobs to support the military effort, and other civilians who worked or volunteered in America during World War II.
 |
| (NPS/Luther Bailey) |
Just a one-mile walk from the visitor education center, or a short drive, is the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. The memorial was created by a group of local people dedicated to preserving the history of the Kaiser Shipyards. Their efforts to create this massive public art project helped lead to the establishment Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, dedicated on October 14, 2000, the same day that the Rosie the Riveter Memorial was finished.
 |
| (NPS/Luther Bailey) |
Volunteer docents at the Red Oak Victory ship will take any adventurous visitors on a tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. Scramble up and down the steep ladders inside the last remaining of the 747 ships built in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards during the war. On the bridge of the ship, the docent might blow the loud air horn and or show how the merchant marines communicated with the engine room on the brass telegraph.
The Maritime Child Development Center, owned by the park's friends group, the Rosie the Riveter Trust, has been fully restored and is once again a school for neighborhood children. One of the classrooms, made available to the National Park Service, has been filled with the actual furniture used by children in the 1940s and displays exhibits about the important role these child care centers played in supporting working mothers during the war.
Other World War II park sites are still under development, such as the historic Kaiser Hospital, Richmond's Fire Station #6, and the Atchison Village Mutual Homes Corporation. These buildings can be seen from the outside, on a self-guided auto tour or on a monthly ranger-guided bus tour (be sure to reserve a seat ahead of time).
There are so many ways to enjoy and explore this national historical park. Please call (510) 232-5050, ext. 0; seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm if you have any questions not answered on our website. We look forward to seeing you in the park! Read more here.
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