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Articles on National Park Service Centennial

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Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, built by Anasazi c. 1200. The Antiquities Act was passed to protect such sites from looters. National Park Service

How the Antiquities Act has expanded the national park system and fueled struggles over land protection

The 1906 Antiquities Act gives presidents unilateral power to protect land as national monuments. The law has saved important places, but has also fueled intense conflicts over land control.
Flock of ibis, Everglades National Park. Linda Friar, National Park Service/Flickr

Restoring the Everglades will benefit both humans and nature

Rehydrating the Florida Everglades is the largest ecological restoration project in the world. Ecologist Peter Frederick explains why this massive effort is worth its multi-billion-dollar cost.
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park. Lorcel/Shutterstock

How John Muir’s incessant study saved Yosemite

John Muir, born on April 21, 1838, was one of America’s first great conservation advocates. His letters and diaries convey the emotions Muir felt in Yosemite Valley, his ‘sanctum sanctorum.’
Sunrise on Angel’s Window, North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park. National Park Service/Wikimedia

How the Grand Canyon changed our ideas of natural beauty

Why do Americans revere the Grand Canyon? It taught us to look at nature in a new way, and to respect iconic places by leaving them alone.

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