Founded in 1916, the National Park System was famously referred to by Pulitzer Prize winner Wallace Stegner as “the best idea we ever had.” What he meant was that the parks’ significance was more than aesthetic—it was democratic. The 419 wilderness preserves, natural monuments and other sites that comprise the NPS belong to every citizen. These lands—where you can witness the geysers of Yellowstone, the perfect night skies of Nevada’s Great Basin or the colors at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—are national treasures that help define America. At a time when the very concept of public land is being questioned, we visit four acclaimed national parks and get to know some of the rangers who take care of not only the land, but also the people who’ve come to see it…
Via American Way Magazine
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