Exploring The Parks: Fort Larned National Historic Site

There are no walls around Fort Larned on the Kansas prairie, which makes it easy for your eyes to roam across the surrounding countryside that was home to soldiers from 1860 to 1878 when they were tasked with guarding travelers along the Santa Fe... THE WHOLE STORY

Fort Larned's Dark Chapter

A billiards table offering one of the few respites from the daily hardships endured by soldiers on the frontier in the wake of the Civil War could not temper the racism that some white troops harbored against their Black peers. THE WHOLE STORY

Is The River Of Grass Actually A River?

In the late 1940s, Marjory Stoneman Douglas poetically labeled the Everglades a “River of Grass” in her renowned book. This brings up an interesting question: Is the River of Grass a river or just a poetic name? THE WHOLE STORY

  • Square Tower cliff dwelling and surrounding mesa landscape, Mesa Verde National Park
    Square Tower cliff dwelling and surrounding mesa landscape, Mesa Verde National Park
    Mesa Verde National Park - Rebecca Latson

    "Square Tower House the tallest cliff dwelling structure in the park. At four stories it stands 27 feet high. One kiva still has a partially intact roof. Square Tower House is most often seen by visitors from an overlook on the Mesa Top Loop."

  • A shaded morning view of the seasonal waterfall in Frenchman Coulee, a part of the Channeled Scablands of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    A shaded morning view of the seasonal waterfall in Frenchman Coulee, a part of the Channeled Scablands of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail - Rebecca Latson

    When the colossal Ice Age floodwaters of Glacial Lake Missoula swept through Eastern Washington, the water gouged and eroded the land, pushing out soils and rocks and carving huge, wide channels known as coulees. Frenchman Coulee is one such channel measuring about 0.5 miles wide from wall to wall. This coulee is bounded on either side by almost vertical cliffs of mostly columnar basalts created from the Columbia River Basalt lava flows.

  • A reflection of a mountain with the sunrise bathing the top of the mountain peak at Tipsoo Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
    A reflection of a mountain with the sunrise bathing the top of the mountain peak at Tipsoo Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
    Mount Rainier National Park - Rebecca Latson

    "Tipsoo Lake is a popular summer destination on the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park. Located at Chinook Pass along State Route 410, this subalpine lake is set in a glacier-carved basin and surrounded by subalpine wildflower meadows. The area experiences heavy snowfall in winter, with snow lingering well into June or even July. State Route 410 closes for the winter season."

  • A view of the Painted Desert with a blue sky and white clouds seen through a window frame at the Painted Desert Inn, Petrified Forest National Park
    A view of the Painted Desert with a blue sky and white clouds seen through a window frame at the Painted Desert Inn, Petrified Forest National Park
    Petrified Forest National Park - Rebecca Latson

    "In its almost 100 years overlooking the Painted Desert, the inn has undergone many changes. The original building from the early 1920s was made of petrified wood. Today's adobe facade dates to the 1930s renovation of the Painted Desert Inn."

  • A replica of the ship Friendship docked in the water during a snowstorm, Salem Maritime National Historic Site
    A replica of the ship Friendship docked in the water during a snowstorm, Salem Maritime National Historic Site
    Salem Maritime National Historic Site - National Park Service

    "The Salem East Indiaman Friendship was launched in 1797. She made 15 voyages during her career to Batavia, India, China, South America, the Caribbean, England< Germany, the Mediterranean and Russia. Built for Salem mercantile firm Waite and Pierce, she ended her activities as an American merchant vessel when she was captured as a prize of war by the British Sloop of War, HMS Rosamon, in September 1812. This replica was built by the National Park Service using modern materials and construction methods while retaining the appearnce of the original ship"

  • A wall of columnar basalts towering over a landscape of golden tall grass and scrubby sagebrush on an overcast morning, Drumheller Channels, Ice Age Flood National Geologic Trail
    A wall of columnar basalts towering over a landscape of golden tall grass and scrubby sagebrush on an overcast morning, Drumheller Channels, Ice Age Flood National Geologic Trail
    Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail - Rebecca Latson

    A National Natural Landmark, "the Drumheller Channels are the most spectacular example in the Columbia Plateau of basalt "butte-and-basin" channeled scablands. This is an erosional landscape characterized by hundreds of isolated, steep-sided hills surrounded by a braided network of (usually) dry stream channels. The landscape is the result of dramatic modification of the Columbia Plateau volcanic terrain by late Pleistocene catastrophic glacial outburst floods—the Missoula Floods. These floods occurred at a scale remaining unparalleled on earth, either in the geologic record or in historical account."

  • Highway 2 in Washingiton state leading along the canyon floor of Moses Coulee and uphill in the Channeled Scablands along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    Highway 2 in Washingiton state leading along the canyon floor of Moses Coulee and uphill in the Channeled Scablands along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail - Rebecca Latson

    "At the time of one of the first floods to be released from Glacial Lake Missoula, the Okanogan Lobe of the continental ice sheet had spread across the Columbia Valley and onto the Columbia Plateau to a position about 24 kilometers (14 miles) north of the site and so had caused the diversion of the glacial Columbia River into the former channel of Moses Coulee. When the outburst flood occurred, violently erosive torrents rushing down the Columbia River drainage were diverted into the Moses Coulee channel, causing in a single flood event the formation of a long, deep coulee second only to the Grand Coulee in size."

  • A replica of a covered wagon and a team of oxen with Scotts Bluff formation in the background, Scotts Bluff National Memorial
    A replica of a covered wagon and a team of oxen with Scotts Bluff formation in the background, Scotts Bluff National Memorial
    Scotts Bluff National Monument - Kurt Repanshek

    "Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument."

  • Fourth of July fireworks celebration, National Mall and Memorial Parks
    Fourth of July fireworks celebration, National Mall and Memorial Parks
    National Mall and Memorial Parks - National Park Service

    "This is where the nation comes to remember and where history is made. As 'America’s Front Yard,' the National Mall and Memorial Parks is home to many of our country’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped us as a nation. Each year, millions of people come to recreate, commemorate presidential legacies, honor our veterans, and make their voices heard."

  • A wide-angle view of Dry Falls, a part of the Channelled Scablands created by the floodwaters of Glacial Lake Missoula, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    A wide-angle view of Dry Falls, a part of the Channelled Scablands created by the floodwaters of Glacial Lake Missoula, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
    Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail - Rebecca Latson

    Dry Falls is a geological wonder of North America. Carved by the Ice Age Floods more than 13,000 years ago, the former waterfall was once four times the size of Niagara Falls. Today, the 400 foot-high, 3.5 mile-wide cliff overlooks a big sky and a landscape of deep gorges and dark, reflective lakes. The park is a notable site along the National Ice Age Floods Geologic Trail.

  • A view of South Fork Quantico Creek in the winter, Prince William Forest Park
    A view of South Fork Quantico Creek in the winter, Prince William Forest Park
    Prince William Forest Park - National Park Service

    "Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers."

  • A Day At The Mills, Paterson Great Falls National Hisorical Park, 1913.
    A Day At The Mills, Paterson Great Falls National Hisorical Park, 1913.
    Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park - National Park Service

    This is the 1913 strike, day 46. The mills stood silent for five months as workers joined in a bitter strike that brought the city national attention. Paterson's success was built largely on the innovative, entrepreneurial, hard-working spirit of its citizens - most of whom were immigrants. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many worked in mills manufacturing everything from cotton textiles, steam locomotives, Colt revolvers and aircraft engines to silk fabrics in such quantities that Paterson was known as 'Silk City'. Former mill buildings includ the Rogers Locomotive Building (Paterson Museum), the Colt Gun Mill ruins and the Allied Textile Printing (ATP) site ruins. All are located within the National Historic Landmark district.

  • The Niobrara NSR as seen from a canoe, with tree-lined bluffs and a deep blue sky
    The Niobrara NSR as seen from a canoe, with tree-lined bluffs and a deep blue sky
    Niobrara National Scenic River - NPS - Ryan Schmeider

    "Seventy-six miles of free-flowing fun. With a little something for everyone, the Niobrara National Scenic River is a destination for crossing adventures off your bucket list. Most popular for river recreation, you can float the Niobrara River on a canoe, tube, or kayak as a beginner and have a blast. Hiking, biking, and wildlife watching keep our visitors busy. Oh! And we haven't even told you about the waterfalls yet."

  • The arching rock formation known as Owachomo Bridge frames this view of the Milky Way overhead at Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah.
    The arching rock formation known as Owachomo Bridge frames this view of the Milky Way overhead at Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah.
    Natural Bridges National Monument - NPS - Jacob W. Frank

    "Natural Bridges National Monument was named the world's first International Dark Sky Park in 2007 ... Owachomo is the smallest and thinnest of the three natural bridges here and is commonly thought to be the oldest. We may never know for certain, because each of the bridges is eroding at different rates. Owachomo means "rock mound" in Hopi and is named after the rock formation on top of the east end of the bridge. Before William Douglas gave it this name in 1908, it was called "Edwin" or "Little" Bridge. Prior to that, it was referred to as "Congressman" by miner and explorer Cass Hite.

  • Echo Park Road from Echo Park Overlook, DInosaur National Monument
    Echo Park Road from Echo Park Overlook, DInosaur National Monument
    Dinosaur National Monument - NPS - Peter K.

    The Echo Park Road is an incredibly scenic drive with many sites of interest for those with appropriate vehicles. High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended.

  • Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum) - new hatchling
    Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum) - new hatchling
    Congaree National Park - National Park Service

    "Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States."

  • Sea turtle tracks with the ocean in the background, Canaveral National Seashore
    Sea turtle tracks with the ocean in the background, Canaveral National Seashore
    Canaveral National Seashore - Kristen Photo

    "The longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Florida, this pristine barrier island composed of dune, hammock and lagoon habitats provides protection from storms, preserves ancient Timucua Native American mounds, and is sanctuary for thousands of species of plants and animals that call Canaveral National Seashore home."

  • Storm clouds in a vast sky over the immense dunes at Kobuk Valley National Park
    Storm clouds in a vast sky over the immense dunes at Kobuk Valley National Park
    Kobuk Valley National Park - National Park Service

    "Storm clouds in a vast sky over the immense dunes release a sheet of rain in the distance. Wide open spaces in Kobuk Valley National Park enable a visitor to see weather coming and going."

  • The Agate Fossil Hills covered in green grass with thunderhead in the background at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
    The Agate Fossil Hills covered in green grass with thunderhead in the background at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
    Agate Fossil Beds National Monument - National Park Service

    "The Agate Fossil Beds were the scene of important Miocene age discoveries in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Visitors now walk the Fossil Hills Trails and stand where paleontologists worked. From the historic quarries the mixed grass prairie holds stories of ages gone by."

  • Wooden gates and walls on the side of a sloping hill at Andersonville National Historic Site.
    Wooden gates and walls on the side of a sloping hill at Andersonville National Historic Site.
    Andersonville National Historic Site - National Park Service

    "Commonly known as Andersonville, the military prison facility was officially named Camp Sumter, in honor of the county in which it was located. Construction of the camp began in early 1864 after the decision had been made to relocate Union prisoners to a more secure location. This decision was made because of the battles taking place near Richmond, VA where many prisoners were being held, and as a way to procure a greater food supply."

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