… was renamed on this date in 1929. It has been Lafayette National Park since 1919 and Sieur de Monts National Monument from 1916 to 1919. Lafayette/Acadia was the first national park east of the Mississippi River.
Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Such diverse habitats create striking scenery and make the park a haven for wildlife and plants.
Entwined with the natural diversity of Acadia is the story of people. Evidence suggests native people first lived here at least 5,000 years ago. Subsequent centuries brought explorers from far lands, settlers of European descent, and, arising directly from the beauty of the landscape, tourism and preservation.
Acadia National Park is a land of contrast and diversity. Comprised of a cluster of islands on the Maine coast, Acadia is positioned within the broad transition zone between eastern deciduous and northern coniferous forests, and hosts several species and plant communities at the edge of their geographic range. Steep slopes rise above the rocky shore, including Cadillac Mountain, which at 1,530 feet is the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. While surrounded by the ocean, the entire fabric of Acadia is interwoven with a wide variety of freshwater, estuarine, forest, and intertidal resources, many of which contain plant and animal species of international, national and state significance.
… was established by President Herbert Hoover on this date in 1933.
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, dunes have engulfed 275 square miles of desert creating the world’s largest gypsum dunefield.
White Sands National Monument preserves this dunefield, along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this constantly changing environment.
The largest gypsum dune field in the world is located at White Sands National Monument in south-central New Mexico. This region of glistening white dunes is in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert within an “internally drained valley” called the Tularosa Basin. The monument ranges in elevation from 3890′ to 4116′ above sea level. There are approximately 275 total square miles of dune fields here, with 115 square miles (about 40%) located within White Sands National Monument. The remainder is on military land that is not open to the public. This dune field is very dynamic, with the most active dunes moving to the northeast at a rate of up to 30 feet per year, while the more stable areas of sand move very little. The pure gypsum (hydrous calcium sulfate) that forms these unusual dunes originates in the western portion of the monument from an ephemeral lake or playa with a very high mineral content. As the water evaporates (theoretically as much as 80″ per year!), the minerals are left behind to form gypsum deposits that eventually are wind-transported to form these white sand dunes. Many species of plants and animals have developed very specialized means of surviving in this area of cold winters, hot summers, with very little surface water and highly mineralized ground water.
… was renamed from Virgin Islands National Historic Site on this date in 1961.
Christiansted National Historic Site is located on the island of St Croix in the Virgin Islands. This park has 5 preserved historic structures and interprets the Danish economy and way of life in existence there from 1733 to 1917. We invite you to explore this unique part of America’s heritage!
Christiansted National Historic Site, on the island of St Croix in the Virgin Islands, was established in 1952 through the initiative of concerned local citizens. The park’s mandate is twofold – to preserve the historic structure and grounds within its boundaries, and to interpret the Danish economy and way of life here between 1733 and 1917. The park consists of seven acres centered on the Christiansted waterfront/wharf area. On the grounds are five historic structures: Fort Christiansvaern (1738), the Danish West India & Guinea Company Warehouse (1749), the Steeple Building (1753), Danish Custom House (1844), and the Scale House (1856). The National Park Service uses these resources to interpret the drama and diversity of the human experience at Christiansted during Danish sovereignty – colonial administration, the military and naval establishment, international trade (including the slave trade), religious diversity, architecture, trades, and crime and punishment.
Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California’s Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Within the monument’s boundaries lie 24,000 acres of diverse wildlands. The monument is renowned for the beauty and variety of its spring wildflowers. A rich diversity of wildlife can be observed throughout the year.
The rolling chaparral and dramatic rock faces of Pinnacles National Monument inspire loyalty in visitors, from picnickers to rock-climbers, and from stargazers to cave explorers. Pinnacles is visually stunning, as anyone who has seen the smooth orb of the moon glide from behind the crags of the High Peaks can attest, or who has watched the flashing black and white wings of acorn woodpeckers as they tuck acorns into the thick bark of gray pines. This striking beauty is attributable, in part, to the Monument’s geologic formations, showcase chaparral habitat, finely intergraded ecosystems, and protected native plant and animal diversity. Another special Pinnacles quality is its proximity to millions of people. . . .
Established in 1908 to preserve the incongruent and beautiful rock formations for which Pinnacles is named, the Monument originally protected only 2,060 acres. It now encompasses about 26,000 acres in the southern portion of the Gabilan Mountains, one of a series of parallel northwest-trending ridges and valleys that make up the Central Coast Range.
… was designated a National Historic Site on this date in 1944.
The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site contains “Springwood”, the lifelong home of America’s only 4-term President. Also on the site is the Presidential Library and Museum, operated by the National Archives. Visitors may enjoy a guided tour of FDR’s home, take a self-guided tour of the Museum and stroll the grounds, gardens, and trails of this 300-acre site. . . .
Also available, FDR’s Top Cottage retreat the place he built in 1938 to, “escape the mob” at Springwood. He also brought close friends and political allies here to discuss the state of the world or to simply relax. Designed by FDR to emulate the Dutch colonial architecture found throughout the Hudson River Valley, the structure was planned with accessibility in mind to accommodate his wheelchair and give him greater independence. . . .
The only National Historic Site dedicated to a First Lady, Val-Kill welcomes you as Mrs. Roosevelt welcomed her many guests. Visitors may tour Mrs. Roosevelt’s Val-Kill Cottage and enjoy the lovely gardens and grounds on the site. . . .
“PARKLAND, Wa. — The next time somebody mindlessly bashes a ‘federal bureaucrat,’ as if the term itself were a parasitic disease, remember the bright young woman we said goodbye to here a few days ago: Margaret Anderson, a park ranger in a flag-draped casket.”
“In 2010, the United States Mint began to issue 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program.”
… was proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt on this date in 1908. It became a national park in 1919.
These progressive gestures influenced the status of Grand Canyon during the 1890s and 1900s but did not immediately cause federal agencies to participate in its preservation nor in tourist management. Indiana senator Benjamin Harrison introduced legislation in 1882, 1883, and 1886 to set aside the canyon as a “public park,” but the bills died in committee. On 20 February 1893 President Harrison set aside Grand Canyon Forest Reserve, but the 1897 law that allowed grazing, mining, and lumbering within reserves, though it led to permit requirements for such pursuits, did not challenge rimside entrepreneurs. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the canyon in 1903, expressing his wish that it remain pristine for future generations, then enhanced its protective status by declaring portions to be a federal game preserve on 28 November 1906.
The first real measure of protection from uncontrolled development, however, did not arrive until 11 January 1908, when Roosevelt proclaimed the 1,279-square-mile Grand Canyon National Monument.This status prohibited future private claims of any type, although the canyon’s pioneers scurried to properly file their claims with Coconino and Mohave Counties prior to that date.
… was proclaimed by President Clinton under the Antiquities Act on this date 12 years ago.
The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service (NPS). Covering more than one million acres of remote and unspoiled public lands, this monument offers a wealth of scientific opportunities. The monument is home to countless biological, historical and archeological treasures. Deep canyons, mountains and lonely buttes testify to the power of geological forces and provide colorful vistas.
… was proclaimed by President Clinton under the Antiquities Act on this date 12 years ago.
Waves explode onto offshore rocks, spraying whitewater into the air. Sea lions bark as they “haul out” of the surf onto the rocks, and a whirlwind of birds fly above. These amazing rocks and small islands are part of the California Coastal National Monument, a spectacular interplay of land and sea.
Located off the 1,100 miles of California coastline, the California Coastal National Monument comprises more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles between Mexico and Oregon. The scenic qualities and critical habitat of this public resource are protected as part of the National Landscape Conservation System, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.
… was proclaimed by President Clinton under the Antiquities Act on this date 12 years ago. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Adjacent to rapidly expanding communities, the 70,900-acre Agua Fria National Monument is approximately 40 miles north of central Phoenix. The area is located on a high mesa semi-desert grassland, cut by the canyon of the Agua Fria River and other ribbons of valuable riparian forest, contributing to an outstanding biological resource. The diversity of vegetative communities, topographic features, and a dormant volcano decorates the landscape with a big rocky, basaltic plateau. The Agua Fria river canyon cuts through this plateau exposing precambrian rock along the canyon walls. Elevations range from 2,150 feet above sea level along the Agua Fria Canyon to about 4,600 feet in the northern hills. This expansive mosaic of semi-desert area, cut by ribbons of valuable riparian forest, offers one of the most significant systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest. In addition to the rich record of human history, the monument contains outstanding biological resources.
The area is the home to coyotes, bobcats, antelope, mule deer, javelina, a variety of small mammals and songbirds. Eagles and other raptors may also be seen. Native fish such as the longfin dace, the Gila mountain sucker, the Gila chub, and the speckled dace, exist in the Agua Fria River and its tributaries.
… was proclaimed such by President Theodore Roosevelt 104 years ago today.
On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation establishing Muir Woods National Monument. William and Elizabeth Kent had donated the woods to save the trees, and asked that it be named after John Muir. Upon learning of its dedication, Mr. Muir declared, “This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.”
Muir Woods National Monument was established to protect an old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction. The park’s award-winning trails are recognized for their accessibility, providing visitors with an easy walk on paved trails or boardwalks through the Woods. Other trails to the ridge tops offer a more strenuous experience for avid hikers. In the light gaps beneath the redwood trees are red alders, California big leaf maples, tanoaks, and Douglas fir. The forest floor is covered in redwood sorrel, ferns, fungi, duff and debris. Several bridges cross Redwood Creek which flows through the park year-round. Wildlife residents include the endangered coho salmon fingerlings, Pacific wren, woodpeckers, owls, deer, chipmunks, skunks, river otters and squirrels to name a few.
… was established 109 years ago today. It is the 7th oldest national park.
One of the world’s longest and most complex caves and 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park’s mixed-grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.
American Indian stories dating back centuries speak of a “hole that breathes cool air” in the Black Hills. Cowboys came across a breathing hole in 1881 and the exploration of Wind Cave began. In 1903 Wind Cave became the first cave anywhere in the world to be designated a national park. Cave explorers are still finding new rooms and passages in Wind Cave, the fifth longest cave in the world.
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the admission of New Mexico as a state. To avoid the tumult and hullaballoo I decided to leave New Mexico altogether and so headed down I-25 to El Paso, Texas, Thursday for a 22-hour visit. There I was given a most excellent tour by Annette, native of El Paso and long-time friend of this blog. (Her first comment here was almost eight years ago, in March 2004.) Click any of the photos for the gallery or larger versions.
The first European settlement in that area was El Paso del Norte, founded on the south side of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte in Mexico) by the Spanish in 1659. (Even before that, a Thanksgiving mass was celebrated near the river in April 1598.) A smaller community was established on the north side of the river in 1680. This northern village, which was part of New Mexico until 1850, became El Paso. The older, much larger city in Chihuahua, Mexico, El Paso del Norte, was renamed Ciudad Juárez for five-time president of Mexico Benito Juárez in 1888. In 2010 El Paso had approximately 650,000 people with another 90,000 in the metropolitan area. Ciudad Juárez has twice that many residents.
The first item of business Thursday evening was dinner at Forti’s Mexican Restaurant, deep in an older part of town, though established just in 1976. The decor included every Mexican restaurant motif known; it was delightful. After dinner was a tour of downtown El Paso, including San Jacinto Plaza still lighted for the holidays, a surprising number of large buildings compared to Albuquerque, and many variations of the dollar store. The highlight was a spectacular view of the lights of both the American and Mexican cities from Rim Drive. I can’t remember a more spectacular view of city lights since on approach into LAX.
Friday was a superb January day, crystal clear with the temperature in the 60s by early afternoon. The first stop was Chamizal National Memorial.
The boundary between Mexico and the United States after the war between the two countries was first set in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848; 1,248 miles of the 1,900 mile boundary followed the Rio Grande/Río Bravo. Under international law, if a river changes its course gradually, the boundary moves with the channel. If, though, the river changes its course dramatically in a flood, the boundary remains in the old river bed, even if dry. The Rio Grande/Río Bravo did both; beginning in the 1850s it moved south, gradually and at times abruptly. Mexico complained over the loss of land. Ultimately, after more than 100 years of contention, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to the Chamizal Treaty. President Kennedy and Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos initiated the settlement in 1963; it was furthered and completed by President Johnson. Land was exchanged and the river was fixed in a concrete channel. The National Memorial commemorates the settlement.
Mural by Carlos Flores on outside of Chamizal National Memorial visitor center.
U.S. side of original boundary marker (not in actual location).Mexican side of original boundary marker.
A border crossing as seen from the Memorial grounds.
The morning’s second stop was the Lucky Cafe on Alameda where breakfast is served 24 by 7. I believe I was the only person there who didn’t speak Spanish.
Nearby was the grave of my grandfather, John Louis Beyett, who died in March 1944, before I was born. My mother was raised by an uncle and aunt, so her father is little more than a few stories and a few photographs to me. Nonetheless, I have been wanting to make a pilgrimage to his grave for many years. I knew it was unmarked, but not unrecorded and the cemetery staff was able to direct me. Beneath the dried winter grass of the inexplicably named Evergreen Cemetery, next to the stone for Mowad lies the source for one-fourth of my DNA.
Evergreen is also home to at least two notorious individuals. Albert B. Fall, a prominent lawyer and judge, was elected as one of New Mexico’s first two United States senators after statehood in 1912. He served until 1921, when he became Secretary of the Interior in the Harding Administration. The naval petroleum reserves were soon transferred to Interior management and, in 1922, Fall provided favorable leases for the Teapot Dome reserve (Wyoming) to his friend Henry Sinclair and for Elk Hills (California) to Edward Doheny. Fall was suddenly rich, though the records were strikingly vague how. Eventually a $100,000 loan to Fall from Doheny was uncovered. Fall was convicted of receiving bribes, fined $100,000 and served a year in prison. Doheny was acquitted. Sinclair was fined $100,000 and served a short sentence for contempt and jury tampering. Fall was the first cabinet member to go to prison for actions while in office. Like my grandfather, Fall died in El Paso in 1944.
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico. Huerta took power in a coup in February 1913; both the existing president and vice-president were shot. A harsh military dictatorship followed and the Wilson Administration opposed him. Venustiano Carranza’s led the plan for Huerta’s removal and the restoration of constitutional government; supporters included Emiliano Zapata, Francisco “Pancho” Villa and Álvaro Obregón. Obregón and Villa defeated Huerta’s federal army at the Battle of Zacatecas and Huerta resigned the presidency on July 15, 1914. He went into exile but was arrested in Newman, New Mexico, in 1915 aboard a train bound for El Paso, allegedly intent on regaining the Mexican presidency through another coup. He died of cirrhosis in 1916 while under house arrest in El Paso. In Mexico Huerta is known as El Chacal, the Jackal.
A view of “The Fence” from the Border Highway, Texas Loop 375 in El Paso. Photo was taken from moving car.
Last, I visited the Socorro Mission in the adjacent town of Socorro, Texas. Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción de los Piros del Socorro (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Piros of Socorro) was founded in 1682 by the Franciscans to serve Indians (Piro, Tano and Jemez) and Spanish displaced from New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt. (Socorro, New Mexico, was named by Oñate in 1598 after the Piros assisted his expedition as it emerged from the Jornada del Muerto. Socorro means aid or succor.) The present building was constructed by 1840 to replace a church flooded by the Rio Grande in 1829.
Legend has it that this statue of Saint Michael was being transported in a carreta (oxcart) from Mexico to Santa Fe in 1845. The cart became stuck and the locals took it as a sign the statue should remain with them. Note the beams.I wasn't and didn't speed. The Z4 got 31 mpg on the 560 mile round trip.Better warned than bitten. Yes, that's the remnants of last month's snow.
… was proclaimed on January 4, 1935. It was renamed and redesignated on October 26, 1992.
Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and its military past.
A large military fortress, Fort Jefferson, was constructed in the mid-19th century as an effort for the United States to protect the extremely lucrative shipping channel. Low and flat, these islands and reefs pose a serious navigation hazard to ships passing through the 75-mile-wide straits between the gulf and the ocean. Consequently, these high risk reefs have created a natural “ship trap” and have been the site of hundreds of shipwrecks. A lighthouse was constructed at Garden Key in 1825 to warn incoming vessels of the dangerous reefs and later, a bricktower lighthouse was constructed on Loggerhead Key in 1858 for the same purpose.
Situated on a barrier island along Florida’s east coast, inviting park highlights include pristine, undeveloped beach, dunes and lagoon offering sanctuary to an abundant blend of plants and animals. Year-round recreation includes fishing, boating, canoeing, surfing, sunbathing, swimming, hiking, camping, nature and historical trails.
Twenty-five miles of undeveloped barrier island preserve the natural beach, dune, marsh, and lagoon habitats for many species of birds. The Kennedy Space Center occupies the southern end of the island and temporary closures are possible due to launch-related activities.
… was established in 1916 and renamed on this date in 1987.
Mammoths, giant bison, and short-faced bears were witness to the first tremblings of the earth and firework-like explosions of molten rock thousands of feet into the air. Approximately 60,000 years ago, the rain of cooling cinders and four lava flows formed Capulin Volcano, a nearly perfectly-shaped cinder cone, rising more than 1000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Although long extinct, Capulin Volcano is dramatic evidence of the volcanic processes that shaped northeastern New Mexico. Today the pine forested volcano provide habitat for mule deer, wild turkey, and black bear.
This monument preserves 114,277 acres of which 109,260 acres are federal and 5,017 acres are private. El Malpais means “the badlands” but contrary to its name this unique area holds many surprises, many of which researchers are now unraveling. Volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure ridges and complex lava tube systems dominate the landscape. Closer inspection reveals unique ecosystems with complex relationships. Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern side, providing access to vast wilderness.
For more than 10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais landscape. Historic and archeological sites provide reminders of past times. More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources are kept alive by the spiritual and physical presence of contemporary Indian groups, including the Puebloan peoples of Acoma, Laguna,and Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo. These tribes continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering herbs and medicines, paying respect, and renewing ties.
… was designated a National Park 40 years ago today. It had been a national monument since 1937.
The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth’s crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell). Capitol Reef National Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique natural and cultural history found in the area.
Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law Charles Mason rode out on what is now Sun Point in search of lost cattle 123 years ago today (1888) and found Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde. That afternoon, Richard found Spruce Tree House, and the next day, the two men discovered Square Tower House. Al Wetherill, Richard’s brother, saw Cliff Palace sometime the year before, but he did not enter the dwelling, so the credit for “discovering” the dwelling has been given to Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason.
In 1901, Richard Wetherill homesteaded land that included Pueblo Bonito, Pueblo Del Arroyo, and Chetro Ketl in what is now Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Wetherill remained in Chaco Canyon, homesteading and operating a trading post at Pueblo Bonito until his murder in 1910. Chiishch’ilin Biy, charged with the murder, served several years in prison, but was released in 1914 due to poor health. Wetherill is buried in the small cemetery west of Pueblo Bonito.
NewMexiKen took this photo of Cliff Palace in 2006. Click image for a larger version.
… was so designated on this date in 1919. It is one of five National Park Service sites in Nebraska.
Towering eight hundred feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has been a natural landmark for many peoples, and it served as the path marker for those on the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express Trails.
Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves 3,000 acres of unusual land formations which rise over the otherwise flat prairieland below.
… was established by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act 105 years ago today (1906).
Paso por aqui . . . A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a massive sandstone bluff made El Morro (the bluff) a popular campsite. Ancestral Puebloans settled on the mesa top over 700 years ago. Spanish and American travelers rested, drank from the pool and carved their signatures, dates and messages for hundreds of years. Today, El Morro National Monument protects over 2,000 inscriptions and petroglyphs, as well as Ancestral Puebloan ruins.
… was first proclaimed a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act 105 years ago today (1906). It became a national park in 1962.
With one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils, this is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science.
In the natural world, scientists have documented a vast range of shifts in biological behavior related to climate change, from birds laying their eggs earlier to bears emerging earlier from hibernation in time for the first blossom of spring.
As it turns out, humans are not excluded from such behavioral changes. Over the last 30 years, a new study has found, peak park attendance has shifted by about four days, probably in response to climate change.
. . . was established 92 years ago yesterday (1919).
Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary. Protected within the park’s 229 square miles is a dramatic landscape of sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs. Zion is located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert provinces. This unique geography and the variety of life zones within the park make Zion significant as a place of unusual plant and animal diversity.
