News from the Parks | December 2019

FromAmerica’s National Parks Podcast

Start listening View podcast show

News from the Parks | December 2019

FromAmerica’s National Parks Podcast

ratings:

Length:

13 minutes

Released:

Dec 28, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

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 protected forever, and a whole lot more.

Released:

Dec 28, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Explore our national parks — their history, their people, and their stories.

Skip carousel

Four Men on a Mountain: 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 and preservation of this country. But how much do you know a... by America’s National Parks Podcast
32 min listen
Switchbacks: 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 bound to be. On this episode of America's National Parks, ho... by America’s National Parks Podcast
35 min listen
Corps of Discovery: 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 that celebrate outdoor adventure, such as the Appalachian T... by America’s National Parks Podcast
26 min listen
A White House Burns: 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 Thomas Jefferson moved into the house in 1801, he and archi... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen
A Rocky Mountain Tragedy: 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 disappearances, murders, and accidental deaths are on par with the rest o... by America’s National Parks Podcast
21 min listen
At Home with Harry and Bess: 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 Truman National Historic Site. by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
His Name Was Mudd: 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 December 23, the two men met again, by accident, on a street in... by America’s National Parks Podcast
56 min listen
A Century of Progress: 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 February 15, 2019, was a provision that simply stated: Public Law ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
21 min listen
Corps of Discovery Part 2: 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 Pacific Ocean. Instead, there were mountains as far as the ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
23 min listen
A Gift from Tokyo: 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 original trees were a gift from Japan in 1912 symbolizing internati... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen
A Great Obelisk: 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 President of the United States. Its completion, and its history, not... by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
Kitty Hawk: 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 his attempts were published worldwide, sparking a fever over... by America’s National Parks Podcast
24 min listen
The Wonderful Wind Cave: 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 as it does today, with such force that it blew off Tom's hat. As the sto... by America’s National Parks Podcast
23 min listen
Stories from the Sands: 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 mountains ring the spectacular white dunes, crowned with elect... by America’s National Parks Podcast
24 min listen
Rover: 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 II. That evening, his wife would call on all Americans to foc... by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
The Great Smoky Homestead: 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 their thick cloak of trees. World-renowned for its diversity of... by America’s National Parks Podcast
21 min listen
Fighting on Arrival, Fighting for Survival: 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 short, curly hair, which to them, looked like a bison. The soldiers took a liking to the... by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
How National Parks Stop Thieves: 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 park faced a major identity crisis - people thought all the petrified wo... by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
"Goodbye, Death Valley.": 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 was important to leave Salt Lake City and cross the desert be... by America’s National Parks Podcast
13 min listen
The Solitude of Self: 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 Convention. Today on America's National Parks - The Women's ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
26 min listen
On the Oregon Trail: 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 her mother, whom she would never see again. In it, she writ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
77 Years Ago: 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 Pearl Harbor. The U.S.S. Arizona, a Pennsylvania class battlesh... by America’s National Parks Podcast
22 min listen
Lincoln's Throne: 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 began even as he lingered on his deathbed. There was an obviou... by America’s National Parks Podcast
23 min listen
Rangers Make the Difference II: 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 wildlife and national treasures. Those that remain on the job... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
Apostle of the Cacti: 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 parks. People like John Muir, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Ted... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
Alone on a Winter's Island: 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 Superior, Nine light stations were tended by keepers. Those t... by America’s National Parks Podcast
19 min listen
The Lost Horse Mine: 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, where hot summers, scarce water, limited wood sources, and... by America’s National Parks Podcast
16 min listen
Four Voices, Four Missions: 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 century prior as Mission San Antonio de Valero, by Spanish... by America’s National Parks Podcast
24 min listen
Hell, with the Fires Out: 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 for a themed episode. On today’s episode of America’s National Parks - ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
22 min listen
An Impossible Climb: 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' peak, but this party was different—they were all in wheelchair... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen

More Episodes from America’s National Parks Podcast

Skip carousel

Capitol Reef: Fruit Trees in the Utah Desert: Once the only access road to Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Gorge provides a harsh and beautiful stone causeway that opens up into a world of bizarre and varied stone formations, desert washes both narrow and wide, and the types of plants common... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen
Echoes of the Past: The Saga of Theodore Roosevelt National Park's Wild Horses: What's with the big controversy over wild horses? In this episode, we take a look at these creatures and their place in the ecology and history of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshar... by America’s National Parks Podcast
13 min listen
National Park News | National Parks Get Vandalized, NPS Sued For Not Accepting Cash, New National Monument?: In this episode, we're taking a look two vandalism incidents in national parks, a lawsuit against the National Park Service over not accepting cash as payment for entrance at some units, some potential new and expanded national monuments, and the det... by America’s National Parks Podcast
9 min listen
EXPLORE ACT Returns Filming in National Parks and Expands Access to Public Lands: In this episode, we're taking a look at the new EXPLORE act, passed by the US House of Representatives and on its way to the Senate, that will establish new bike trails, new accessible trails, ease concessionaire permitting in National Parks, and mor... by America’s National Parks Podcast
20 min listen
The Measure of Wonder: In this episode of America's National Parks, we embark on a journey of comparison and discovery, exploring the grandeur of the natural world through the lens of America's most treasured landscapes. From the towering sequoias of Californi... by America’s National Parks Podcast
18 min listen
Poaching in the Everglades: An entire food chain lives in the Everglades. But throughout its coexistence with man, the Everglades have been threatened by poachers, who disrupt the delicate balance of this important ecosystem. By Lauren Eisenberg Davis Hosted by Jason Epperson ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
18 min listen
Designing a National Park Visitor Center for the 21st Century: The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is one of the greenest buildings in the National Park Service inventory. In this episode, we take a look at how it cools without air conditioners, heats without a furnace, and more. Plus, as park visitation grows, how a... by America’s National Parks Podcast
14 min listen
National Park News | Biden Proposes NPS Budget, Employee Housing Crisis, & More: In this episode, we look at the final National Park visitation numbers for 2023, a new budget for the NPS from the White House, an employee housing crisis in the National Park Service, a new look at Gateway Arch National Park, and more. Use promo cod... by America’s National Parks Podcast
14 min listen
Wives into the Wilderness: The Unpaid Force That Shaped National Parks: In this episode, we delve into the untold stories of the women who lived in the shadows of America's majestic landscapes, their lives intertwined with the national parks we cherish today. The wives of National Park Rangers played a pivotal role in th... by America’s National Parks Podcast
19 min listen
Nature's Palette: Unveiling Arizona's Petrified Forest: Dive into the heart of Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park, a landscape where the Painted Desert's kaleidoscopic hues meet the ancient, stone-cast logs of the Petrified Forest. This episode takes you through the mesmerizing colors and geological... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
National Park News | Man Diverts a National Park River, New Shark Species Discovered, Rabies Scare at Saguaro: In this month's national park news, new-to-science fossils have been uncovered at Mammoth Cave and John Day Fossil Beds, a rabies scare is taking hold at Saguaro National Park, a man gets convicted for diverting the Platte River at Sleeping Bear Dune... by America’s National Parks Podcast
11 min listen
Stiltsville: An Offshore Hideaway at Biscayne National Park: Set against the backdrop of Miami’s skyline, six structures rise from the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay. Rugged and isolated, these houses on stilts are an unexpected site in the midst of a national park water world that was designated to preserve... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
Harboring History: The Salem Maritime Site and America's Cultural Treasures: Salem Maritime is not just any National Historic Site; it’s the first place the National Park Service was tasked with preserving that wasn’t about nature, scenery, or wildlife. Over 160 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, It w... by America’s National Parks Podcast
21 min listen
National Park News | Park Service Morale Low, Investigative Ranger Ranks Dangerously Low: In this month's news round-up, we take a look at some concerns about the ranks of National Park Service employees: morale is lower than that of other federal employees, and Park Service criminal investigators are down by nearly half. Plus, actor Pier... by America’s National Parks Podcast
11 min listen
Denali, and the Effects of Gold Mining in the Kantishna Hills: Gold Mining drew the world's eye to the wonders of Alaska. Some of our most treasured landscapes were explored in the first place in the effort to strike it rich. But what are the ramifications of gold mining in our national parks? Even in places whe... by America’s National Parks Podcast
16 min listen
Second Only to George Washington: George Rogers Clark, the twenty-six-year-old commander of the Kentucky Militia, petitioned Virginia governor Patrick Henry to be allowed to take 500 American troops into Kentucky (already annexed to Virginia) to conquer the Northwest for Virginia, an... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
News From The Parks | Navy Rescues Motorcycles from Death Valley, 3 New National Park Sites, Yosemite Reservations Return, More: In this episode, we share all the ins and outs of Yosemite's new returning reservation system; we share the news about three new National Park Service sites; two motorcyclists took a closed road in Death Valley and had to be rescued by the US Navy, a... by America’s National Parks Podcast
13 min listen
Vandalism and Capitalism vs Historical Artifacts: Defacement in the NPS: 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 ancient rock markings from the Native Americans and the... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
Christmas in Yellowstone: 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 in early years at Yellowstone, and discover how three 6-... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen
A Dream of Peace: 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 with his wife Ann Druyan, juxtaposed the weapons of the ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
38 min listen
National Park News | Park Reservations in ’24, a Daring Whale Rescue, and More: 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 enforcement roles, a lot is happening across the countr... by America’s National Parks Podcast
11 min listen
The Vehicles of Yellowstone: 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 stepping into Yellowstone National Park; you're rolling ba... by America’s National Parks Podcast
16 min listen
Dinosaurs in Situ: 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 foliage. The Fossil Discovery Trail snakes through the rug... by America’s National Parks Podcast
17 min listen
Discovering The Bighorn: 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 Bighorn River, this expansive chasm presents a breathtakin... by America’s National Parks Podcast
16 min listen
Changes to Park Passes, Grizzly Attack, Fossil Find, & More | National Park News: 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, plus, a terrible grizzly bear attack in Banff, a missing h... by America’s National Parks Podcast
8 min listen
All Lincoln All the Time: 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 ribbon through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Washington ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
18 min listen
Hopewell — America’s Newest World Heritage Site: 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 United States — a group of eight ancient earthwork sites ... by America’s National Parks Podcast
14 min listen
Death Valley Closed for Weeks, Crack in Yosemite, Hiker Found by Webcam, and More | National Park News: 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 route in Yosemite, and more. Sponsored by L.L.Bean - Visit... by America’s National Parks Podcast
9 min listen
Consumption in Mammoth Cave: 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, the property was purchased by Dr. John Croghan and ent... by America’s National Parks Podcast
14 min listen
Riding the Rails to Nature’s Wonders: National Parks by Train: 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 national parks by train? In this episode, discover how yo... by America’s National Parks Podcast
15 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

News from the Parks | December 2019

News from the Parks | December 2019

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from America’s National Parks Podcast