Review by Barb & Ron Kroll

Travel Book Title:

The National Parks - America's Best Idea
(Alfred A. Knopf) ISBN 978-0307268969 0307268969

Theme:

Written to accompany the PBS series on United States National Parks, this beautifully illustrated coffee table book describes the history and politics of national park creation.

The National Parks is not a national parks tour guide or a travelogue. Instead, it documents how the establishment of US National Parks has preserved 84 million acres of space for our enjoyment.

Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns discuss the origins and mythology behind America's national parks and tell the stories about Americans who motivated lawmakers to preserve U.S. mountains, canyons, forests, swamps, valleys, rivers and wildlife for future generations.

Sample Items:

The National Parks describes the conflict between exploitation of national parks for their resources and the protection of landscapes and wildlife to create memories for generations of national park visitors.

For example, Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns tell the story of Enos Mills, a nature writer. Inspired by John Muir, his lectures and articles persuaded Congress to establish Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, in 1915.

Notable Elements:

The inner cover of The National Parks features a list of American national parks, by date of establishment, beginning with Yellowstone National Park, in 1872, and ending with Congaree National Park, in South Carolina, in 2003.

A tear-out map of the USA locates nearly 400 sites in the US National Park System.

Tone / Style:

Well-documented and authoritative, with historical quotes, archival photos and newspaper clippings, each chapter of The National Parks includes an interview with a national park expert. They include Gerard Baker, the first American Indian superintendent at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

Colored sidebars describe people who have contributed to the creation and preservation of American national parks, such as the Cook family, in Arizona, with four generations who have worked in the National Park System.

Visuals:

The 403-page book contains 440 black & white images, color photos and illustrations, which document the history, establishment and scenery in US National Parks.

Contents:

• Preface –
  
  • Our Best Selves
  • A Treasure House of Nature's Superlatives
• Chapter One – The Scripture of Nature
  • Homeland: An interview with Gerard Baker
• Chapter Two – For the Benefit of the People
  • Transcendence: An interview with Shelton Johnson
• Chapter Three – Empire of Grandeur
  • Stories of discovery: An interview with Nevada Barr
• Chapter Four – Going Home
  • Redefining beauty: An interview with Paul Schullery
• Chapter Five – Great Nature
  • Democracy at its best: An interview with Juanita Greene
• Chapter Six – The Morning of Creation
  • This is what we loved: An interview with Terry Tempest Williams
• Afterword – The Best Day
• Index

Authors:

Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns

Claims to fame:

Dayton Duncan is a documentary filmmaker who wrote and produced The National Parks.

Ken Burns is a director and producer of The National Parks.

 
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More information on U.S. National Parks:

Haleakala National Park Maui

Hiking, Canoeing and Bird Watching in Florida Everglades NP

National Geographic Visitor Center Grand Canyon Base Camp

Guide to the National Parks of the United States