America’s National Parks

A Word of Concern About the Future of Our National Parks and Monuments

/ Curt Mekemson / 37 Comments
“The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children and your children’s children and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American, if he can travel at all, should see.” Theodore Roosevelt on the Grand Canyon.

I have avoided politics for the most part in this blog. Peggy’s and my objective in producing Wandering Through Time and Place over the past 14 years has been to share our travels to some of the world’s most beautiful and interesting places, offer background information on the areas we visit, and hopefully provide some laughs (or at least chuckles) along the way.

It isn’t that we don’t care deeply about what is happening in the nation and world today. We do. Yet I have resisted using this blog to jump into the fray. We all deserve a break from the constant pounding and negativity. That is, I have resisted until today.

As you all know if you have followed this blog for more than six months, Peggy and I love America’s incredible national parks and monuments. Like Teddy Roosevelt, we regard them as a sacred public trust. In the past four years alone, we have travelled over 40,000 miles visiting and blogging about over 25 national parks and monuments.

While it is impossible to predict what Donald Trump will do or say on any given day, his actions and words during his first few months of his presidency have signaled his unwillingness to support our parks and monuments. There have been three actions in particular. One he has cut 9% of the staff, which will severely limit the ability of the parks to deal effectively with the more than 300 million people who hope to visit this year. Sections of parks have already been closed because they can’t be covered safely. Two, he is proposing to to sell visitor centers and museums connected to the parks. These are the primary sources of public education and support for those who visit. And finally he is moving to eliminate two of America’s newly created national monuments. This may only be the beginning. Or not. A lot depends on us.

If you are at all concerned about our parks and monuments, whether you are pro or con regarding the present administration, I urge you to contact, contribute to, and join the National Parks Conservation Association that has been leading the effort to protect our parks since 1919. NCAA will keep you informed of developments and the most effective way to preserve our national treasures.

Along with the Grand Canyon shown above, here are 25 reasons to join NCAA and become an advocate for our parks. All photos have been taken by Peggy or me.

Redwoods National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Pt. Reyes National Seashore
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
Death Valley National Park
The Florida Everglades National Park
Denali National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
North Cascades National Park
Olympic National Park
Great Basin National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Mt. Rainier National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Lassen National Park
Glacier National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Big Bend National Park
Zion Canyon National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Grand Tetons National Park

Over the next several months, I will feature 25 photos each Monday from specific national parks and monuments that Peggy and I have visited over the past several years. (We have thousands of photos to select from!) Please stop by to enjoy the beauty.

Friday’s blog will continue to feature our ongoing travels, focusing now on the Danube River and the Big Island of Hawaii.