National Parks Traveler

Update: Presidio Main Post Won’t Be CAMP site

Bob Janiskee — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:31:38 -0400

Frustrated by fierce opposition, the Fishers have abandoned plans to build a contemporary art museum at the Main Post of San Francisco's Presidio. Alternative sites at the Presidio and elsewhere will now be considered.

Plans Announced to Digitally Map Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Kurt Repanshek — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:49:35 -0400

Digital mapping. This relatively new technology is a boon to archaeologists and preservationists. It's already been employed at Mesa Verde National Park, and now plans are in the works to digitally map the focal point of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Lodging in the Parks: Sleeping Along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

David and Kay Scott — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:25:00 -0400

Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is best known for Skyline Drive, the picturesque 105-mile-long road that winds the length of the park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dotting that road are some charming lodgings that make great spots to spend the night.

Ice Cream Social Scheduled for Oregon Caves National Monument

Kurt Repanshek — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:39:00 -0400

Who doesn't like an old-fashioned ice cream social? If you're in the vicinity of Oregon Caves National Monument in early July, stop by for a scoop or two to help celebrate the monument's centennial.

Checkpoints Help Make Park Roads Safer at Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton National Parks

JimB — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:36:00 -0400

There's been some discussion on this site in recent months about the need for parks to be more proactive in terms of safety and accident prevention. At least one park has done so in terms of vehicle safety, and another will try to reduce risks on the road for the July 4 weekend.

Who’ll be the First to Need Lady Liberty’s RAT?

Bob Janiskee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:56:28 -0400

The Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens to the public on July 4. Soon somebody schlepping up those 354 steps will have the dubious distinction of being the first visitor to make a personal acquaintance with Lady Liberty’s RAT.

Stocking of Non-Native Fish at North Cascades National Park Comes to a Halt

Kurt Repanshek — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:06:43 -0400

With the U.S. Senate's inaction on a measure that would direct the National Park Service to allow stocking of non-native fish in North Cascades National Park, that practice has come to an end. But park biologists are working with Washington state fisheries experts to improve fishing elsewhere in the park.

Get Your Free National Parks "Owner's Guide" From The National Park Foundation

Kurt Repanshek — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:20:30 -0400

Here's a good deal: The National Park Foundation will give you a free "Owner's Guide" to the National Park System to help you enjoy the parks.

Ban on Glass and Styrofoam Containers in Effect at Lake Mead National Recreation Area

JimB — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:53:00 -0400

Officials at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are expecting plenty of visitors for the holiday weekend, and they're reminding them about new regulations that went into effect last March: glass and styrofoam containers are no longer welcome in the park.

Mystery Photo Revealed: Reviewing Stand? Hardly.

Kurt Repanshek — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:37:00 -0400

He was known, quite appropriately, as the "hanging judge." During his 21 years at Fort Smith, Judge Isaac C. Parker sent 160 men to the gallows, a replica of which this week's Mystery Photo depicts.