In 1851, word spreads across the country of a beautiful area of California's Yosemite Valley, attracting visitors who wish to exploit the land's scenery for commercial gain and those who wish to keep it pristine. Among the latter is a Scottish-born wanderer named John Muir, for whom protecting the land becomes a spiritual calling. In 1864, Congress passes an act that protects Yosemite from commercial development for "public use, resort and recreation"...

To celebrate the centennial of America's National Park Service, "Picturing America's National Parks" brings together some of the finest landscape photography in the history of the medium, from America's most magnificent and sacred environments. Photography has played an integral role in both the formation of the National Parks and in the depiction of America itself, through this natural resource. From Yosemite to the most recent 2013 addition of Pinnacles...

"From prominent outdoorsman and nature writer Mark Kenyon comes an engrossing reflection on the past and future battles over our most revered landscapes--America's public lands. Every American is a public-land owner, inheritor to the largest public-land trust in the world. These vast expanses provide a home to wildlife populations, a vital source of clean air and water, and a haven for recreation. Since its inception, however, America's public land...

Not a travel guide, this book is a collection of essays that delve into issues affecting America's national parks and historic sites. The authors, who all have deep personal and professional connections to the national parks, explore how the nation's biological and cultural diversity is represented; the importance of balancing between recreation and preservation; the dynamics of nature as they are shaped by a changing climate; and innovations in technology,...

Our national parks are beautiful and unique places, often serving as an introduction to the outdoors and inspiring an appreciation for nature and wilderness. Similarly, stories and storytelling can serve as an introduction to other places and foster a powerful emotional connection to nature. Campfire Stories brings together tales about our national parks; some are by well-known writers such as John Muir, Bill Bryson, and Terry Tempest Williams, while...

"From the cascading waterfalls of Yosemite to the unique geothermal features of Yellowstone, the U.S. national parks are among the most breathtaking destinations in the world. Founded to preserve such natural beauty for posterity, the national parks represent one of America's crowning achievements and international treasures. The National Parks: An American Legacy tells the story of the parks through the photography of Ian Shive, today's leading national...

"Discover a fresh perspective on America's National Parks in a stunning illustrated guide featuring fascinating science, fun trivia, and helpful insider travel tips for all sixty parks. What caused the stone arches in Arches National Park? Why are Yellowstone's geothermal pools such wild colors? How did the Badlands get their name? America's sixty National Parks are some of the most beautiful unique, and biodiverse places on earth, and are visited...

Celebrate the 100th birthday of America's best idea. This premium, blue-chip Centennial Collection features beautiful new footage of eight of America's most beloved National Parks, creating an experience of some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Insightful explorations and fascinating stories of America's most majestic lands include Olympic, Yosemite, Everglades, Yellowstone, Saguaro, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains.

Traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. Using archival photographs, first-person accounts of historical characters, personal memories and analysis from more than 40 interviews, the series chronicles the steady addition of new parks through the stories of the people who helped create them and save them from destruction.

"In 1927, at the age of twenty-three, George Meléndez Wright conceptualized and eventually funded the first wildlife survey of western National Parks, radically changing how the National Park Service (NPS) would manage natural resources under its charge. By the time Wright arrived in Yosemite National Park to work as a ranger naturalist-the first Hispanic person to occupy a professional position in the NPS-he had already visited every national park...