Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas.
Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country’s history, or cultural melting pot?
Equating national parks with nature is obvious, but making a similar connection with history and culture might not be so obvious. And maybe that lack of appreciation for America’s culture and history explains why the National Park Service has been struggling with protecting and interpreting those aspects of the parks.
The National Parks Conservation Association has just released a report calling for a Cultural Resource Challenge, one that asks for a hefty investment by Congress in the Park Service’s cultural affairs wing. We explore that report in today’s episode with Alan Spears, NPCA’s senior director for cultural affairs.
0:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
0:12 Episode Intro with Kurt Repanshek
0:55 Amaranth - Bill Mize - Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
1:22 Smokies Life
1:46 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
2:07 NPT Promo
2:24 Episode 270 - Cultural Resource Challenge
39:54 The Horsemen - Randy Petersen - The Spirit of South Dakota
40:49 Episode Closing
41:10 Orange Tree Productions
41:44 Splitbeard Productions
41:56 National Parks Traveler footer
- By Jess Repanshek - April 14th, 2024 7:00am
Comments
The problem with pushing a "narrative" of our history in the parks is that it is and has become increasingly political in nature.
Our parks should not become another politicaly divisive issue
Its very sime- the NPS exists to protect and preserve our public lands
Thats it. No politics, no narrative, no stories.