Most Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Whether it is the geologic majesty of the Grand Canyon, the geysers of Yellowstone, the mountains of the Shenandoah region, or the swamps of the Florida Everglades, the landscapes and ecology of the United States are as rich and diverse as our population and cultural heritage.
Experience a taste of these national treasures with Stories of America’s National Parks. In 12 inspiring lectures, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson, author of several highly acclaimed books about American history and ecology, traverses the country to give you an insider’s look at a dozen national treasures. You’ll explore the origins, cultural legacy, and environmental import of sites from the Hawaiian islands to the Atlantic seaboard, as you:
- Explore the ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, Colorado,
- Bundle up for a hike through the high peaks of Denali National Park,
- Learn about the timber industry and the protection of the great sequoias in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, and
- Experience paradise on Earth in Maine’s Acadia National Park.
National parks were not a given. Americans often disagreed about their importance—and which landscapes were worth saving. From the depths of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky to the ancient ruins of Mesa Verde to the dark sky of Death Valley, Dr. Nelson shows that the conflicts over 150 years have been an important part of the National Park System’s phenomenal achievements and complex history.
