|
America’s National Parks Video
|
Is the National Park system created for the preservation and scientific inquiry of ecological environments, for the protection of archaeological and historic sites, or to establish recreation areas for the public to enjoy?
| As America expanded westward, pioneers would “discover” landscapes of such breathtaking and unusual beauty that written descriptions of the lands were sometimes assumed by people in the East to be works of fiction. Eventually, there emerged a belief that these special places should be kept untarnished by development and commerce so that they could be experienced by all people.
In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” The founding of Yellowstone National Park began a worldwide national park movement. Today more than 100 nations contain some 1,200 national parks or equivalent preserves. In the United States, there are nearly 400 areas across the fifty states. |
I hope you find this course an enjoyable exploration into the National Park System and learn something new that inspires you to go on an adventure!