Summer Getaways: National Park Service
A Brief History: The Smallest National Park Site()
June 30, 2008 Forget the walking shoes and bug repellant. The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is a mere 0.02 acres and is inside a Philadelphia row house. Kosciuszko, an American Revolutionary War hero, spent seven months in the room that serves as the main exhibit area.
Cast Of Thousands Keeps Grand Canyon Humming()
June 30, 2008 Grand Canyon National Park may be one of the planet's Seven Natural Wonders, but few realize how many people help keep its 4.4 million annual visitors safe and happy — from the cowboys who lead mule tours, to the dispatchers who make sure campground toilets work.
Tale Of Lost Love Haunts White Sands()
July 1, 2008 When the wind blows at White Sands National Monument, legend has it that the centuries-old ghost of a Mexican maiden can be seen in the shifting sands. It is said that the maiden is still searching for her betrothed, whose body was never found.
Watcher Eagle-Eyes Flames From Tower()
July 1, 2008 The number of active fire lookouts has dwindled to fewer than 1,000 over the past 70 years, but fire tower watcher Margee Kelly maintains her perch on Sequoia National Monument. Kelly carries a torch for the job she's done for 21 fire seasons.
Dinosaur Fossils In Utah Inspire 'Jr. Paleontologists'()
July 2, 2008 At the Dinosaur National Monument, young visitors search for Jurassic-era bones and pledge to take care of their environments.
Mount Rushmore Now Offers Pre-Carving History()
July 2, 2008 Visitors to Mount Rushmore expect to see the carved faces of four U.S. presidents. But a new exhibit of a Native American village may come as a surprise. The exhibit describes life in the Black Hills, land sacred to the Lakota Sioux, before the stone carvings.
Glacier Bay Park's Gravity Shifts As Ice Melts()
July 3, 2008 The ice sheet in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska has receded so much that the Earth's crust is rebounding. Alaskans who live in the area have grown used to expanding properties, brown bears — even a slight drop in gravity.
Dancer, Artist Enlivens Death Valley Junction()
July 3, 2008 In 1967 a flat tire led dancer and artist Marta Becket to Death Valley, an opera house — and her life's work. Today, she no longer dances, but she continues to attract an audience.
Grand Canyon On The Cheap()
July 3, 2008 Judging from this summer's big crowds, Grand Canyon National Park is clearly a destination of choice for vacationers in tough economic times. Some visitors might be Americans trying to save a buck, but others are coming from far away.
Nature, Neighbors Guide Composer's Notes()
July 4, 2008 Phillip Bimstein blends the voices and sounds of his hometown and Zion National Park in southern Utah to create songs. A "Half Moon at Checkerboard Mesa," is a musical hike through the sounds of the park.
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