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Traveler's View: National Park Service Logos Lack Creativity, Fail To Celebrate "America's Best Idea"

National parks, it's held up, are "America's best idea," but logos chosen for the National Park Service to celebrate its centennial and to use in other venues fail to reflect that belief. Indeed, they ignore the rich heritage and beauty of the National Park System in a curious attempt to "engage and connect with new audiences."

The Unusual Story Behind Death Valley National Park's Popular Zabriskie Point

Death Valley National Park has plenty of colorful place names, including Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Last Chance Mountain and Devil's Golf Course, so modern-day visitors might be curious about the one given to a popular scenic overlook in the park: Zabriskie Point. The explanation may be a bit surprising, since the name is tied to an activity not usually associated with national parks, and the story of the overlook itself offers a fascinating glimpse into the park's history.

Special Tours At Fort Union National Monument Offer Rare Chance To Visit Site Of The First Fort Union

Fort Union National Monument is home to what was once the largest military post west of the Mississippi River, but only adobe and stone ruins now remain on the New Mexico prairie. These surviving walls are actually part of the third Fort Union, and September 20, 2014, you can join rangers for a special, once-a-year chance to visit to the site of the First Fort and Arsenal.