The Great Debate: America's National Parks Edition by Ms.LaGarde

Yellowstone National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:21 UTC

Watch the famous Old Faithful geyser erupt in real-time through the park's webcam! This predictable geothermal feature erupts approximately every 90 minutes, shooting hot water up to 180 feet in the air. Fun fact: Old Faithful erupts around 17 times a day, making it one of the most frequent predictable geysers in the world. Visit the Yellowstone National Park website to access their live webcam feeds and virtual tours of the geothermal features.

Yosemite National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:21 UTC

Experience the majesty of North America's tallest waterfall through Yosemite's HD webcam. Yosemite Falls drops a total of 2,425 feet! Through virtual tours, explore the granite cliffs, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife of this iconic park. Check out the virtual ranger programs and educational resources available on the park's website.

Grand Canyon National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:21 UTC

Take a virtual peek into one of Earth's most spectacular natural wonders! The Desert View Watchtower webcam offers stunning views of the Grand Canyon's eastern end. The canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep. Explore the park's virtual geology talks and learn about the rock layers that reveal 2 billion years of Earth's history.

Glacier National Park: Hidden Lake Overlook

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:21 UTC

Discover the 'Crown of the Continent' through virtual tours of Glacier National Park. The Hidden Lake webcam shows pristine alpine meadows and dramatic mountain peaks. Learn about the park's rapidly disappearing glaciers - they've decreased from 150 in 1850 to fewer than 30 today. Access virtual ranger talks about climate change and its impact on the park's ecosystem.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:21 UTC

Visit the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains through the Clingmans Dome webcam! At 6,643 feet, it offers spectacular views of the misty mountains. Through virtual tours, explore America's most visited national park and learn about its incredible biodiversity - the park hosts over 19,000 documented species!

Acadia National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:22 UTC

Experience the first place to see sunrise in the continental US! Through Acadia's webcam, watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain and explore the rocky beaches, woodland, and glacier-carved granite peaks. Virtual tours showcase the park's unique features, including the historic carriage roads and Thunder Hole, a natural underwater cave that creates spectacular wave sounds.

Death Valley National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:22 UTC

Visit the lowest point in North America through Death Valley's virtual tours! Badwater Basin sits at 282 feet below sea level. Through webcams and virtual experiences, discover the extreme environment of Death Valley, where summer temperatures can reach 134°F. Learn about the park's unique salt flats, sand dunes, and surprisingly diverse desert life.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:04:22 UTC

Watch real-time volcanic activity through the park's webcams! See the glow from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes. Through virtual tours, explore the dramatic volcanic landscapes, steam vents, and lava tubes. Learn about Hawaiian culture and how these volcanic islands were formed through the park's virtual education programs.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:21:41 UTC

Preserving the story of America’s 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Texas’ Hill Country enables visitors to tour the landscapes and buildings of Johnson’s ancestors, early life, political career, and retirement. From the Johnson Settlement, a cattle droving headquarters established by Johnson’s great-uncle, to the LBJ Ranch, also called the “Texas White House,” the park offers a unique “full circle” perspective on Johnson and the places from which he drew strength and comfort.

Shenandoah National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:22:49 UTC

Shenandoah National Park protects over 200,000 acres of land, boasting waterfalls, stunning vistas, and more. While the park is renowned for its beauty and recreational opportunities, it also is rich with history and stories to share. The park protects many cabins and lodges that date back over 100 years – and over 300 of the park’s historical structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Women's Rights National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:24:12 UTC

Preserving the site and stories around the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls in July 1848, Women’s Rights National Historical Park offers visitors a glimpse into the historic homes – open seasonally – and landscapes that served as a backdrop for this historic event, as well as the Wesleyan Chapel where 300 people gathered to attend the convention. The park honors the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement, and those who lent their voice to the cause, including women’s rights leaders, abolitionists, and other 19th century reformers.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:26:06 UTC

The final home of one of our nation’s founding fathers, Hamilton Grange National Memorial tells the story of Alexander Hamilton – from his humble beginnings as an orphan in the Caribbean to acting as the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton commissioned architect John McComb Jr. to design this home for an estate in upper Manhattan, and it was here that he lived the final years of his life.

Crater Lake National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:28:12 UTC

Formed by a volcanic eruption and collapse, Crater Lake National Park features the deepest lake in the U.S., and one of the top ten deepest lakes in the world. While people have inhabited the lake’s shores for centuries, the park was founded in 1902 to protect its natural resources, including its fresh, clear water, and cultural resources.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:29:44 UTC

As the capital of the 19th century whaling industry and a safe haven along the Underground Railroad, as well as the home to figures such as Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park preserves, protects, and interprets cultural resources within the “city that lit the world.” Located in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts, the park spans over 13 blocks, and includes a whaling museum, a waterfront visitor center, a custom house, and more.

National Mall and Memorial Parks

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:30:49 UTC

A tradition in our nation’s capital for over 100 years, the annual blossoming of the cherry trees on the National Mall and Memorial Parks is a reminder of the beauty of spring. Plantings of cherry trees began in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. Equated with the evanescence of human life, the beauty of the pale blossoms epitomizes the transformation of Japanese culture throughout the ages.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:31:53 UTC

Established in 1792, Paterson, New Jersey was a planned industrial city from the minds of Alexander Hamilton and the “Society for Establishing Usefull Manufacturers.” Humble mills along the Passaic River manufactured cotton, silk, steam locomotives, rolls of paper, and even airplane engines. The Great Falls at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park are central to the park’s story – their impressive power was the inspiration for Hamilton to establish the city in this spot.

Channel Islands National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:33:15 UTC

Dive into the rich marine life at Channel Islands National Park. Close to California’s southern coast and encompassing five different islands and their ocean environment, the park preserves and protects a variety of natural and cultural resources. The islands’ remote location is home to unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth.

Statue of Liberty National Monument

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:34:56 UTC

A gift from the people of France to the U.S., Statue of Liberty National Monument is recognized globally as a symbol of freedom and democracy. A welcoming figure for the millions of immigrants who entered the United States through New York between 1886 and 1924, the Statue was immortalized in Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” later engraved on a bronze plaque affixed to the base of the statue. First illuminated in 1916, the National Park Service has been caring for this iconic landmark since 1933.

Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:36:35 UTC

Established in 1918 to preserve features associated with one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded, Katmai National Park and Preserve protects thousands of years of human history. The park’s millions of acres serve as an important protected habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears, which can be seen in high concentrations across the park.

Zion National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:39:18 UTC

Zion National Park is a stunning place in Utah known for its towering red rock cliffs, deep canyons, and incredible hiking trails. One of its most famous spots is Angels Landing, a steep and thrilling hike with amazing views. The Virgin River runs through the park, carving out the beautiful Zion Canyon over millions of years. You can see all kinds of wildlife, like mule deer, bighorn sheep, and even tiny tree frogs. Whether you're hiking, wading through The Narrows, or just enjoying the scenery, Zion is an unforgettable place full of adventure and natural beauty!

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:43:18 UTC

Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure.

Isle Royale National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:44:39 UTC

Explore a rugged, isolated island far from our connected communities. Isle Royale offers adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, paddlers, and divers. Cross Lake Superior and make a commitment: Become a part of this island, and let it become a part of you. Find peace and refuge in island wilderness – because Isle Royale, in turn, finds refuge in us.

Arches National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:45:48 UTC

Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and inspire you with its sunsets.

Homestead National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:47:22 UTC

The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was homesteaded! The land, long inhabited by indigenous cultures, changed forever. Homesteaders created settlements and farms, drove industrial advancement, and built our nation chasing the American Dream.

Steamtown National Historic Site, Cliff Street, Scranton, PA

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:49:55 UTC

You'd feel heat from the firebox, smell hot steam and oil; you'd hear the whistle, feel the ground vibrate, and watch as one-ton drive rods turned steel wheels. Remember the sound of "chuff-chuff" from the smokestack? Today, you can learn the history of steam railroad transportation, and the people who built, repaired and rode, as we work to preserve a special era in America's industrial history!

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:51:22 UTC

Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the Gunnison River sculpted this canyon over two million years. The result is a vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:53:12 UTC

Come experience mountains and canyons, desert and dunes, night skies and spectacular vistas within a place unlike any other. Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef, the four highest peaks in Texas, an environmentally diverse collection of flora and fauna, and the stories of lives shaped through conflict, cooperation and survival.

Valles Caldera National Preserve

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:54:18 UTC

About 1.2 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created a 14-mile-wide circular depression in the earth now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:55:23 UTC

The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, or the calm of the salt marshes, you can experience it all. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms these islands are ever changing. The plants, wildlife, and people who live here adapt continually. Whether you are enjoying the beach, kayaking the sound, or climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse there is something for everyone to explore!

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:56:14 UTC

Large rhino-like brontotheres roam a semitropical forest. Dog-sized, three-toed horses dart between the trees. The cat-like nimravid and bear dogs stalk their prey. The climate cools and forests alter to dryer grasslands. Saber tooth cats and camels get replaced by mountain lions and deer. Paleontologists learn more about the ancient animals and environment with every new fossil they discover.

Mount Rainier National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 17:59:13 UTC

Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.

Olympic National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:11:34 UTC

Olympic National Park in Washington is like three amazing parks in one! It has lush rainforests, rugged mountains, and beautiful beaches all in the same place. The Hoh Rainforest is super green and covered in moss, getting tons of rain each year. The Olympic Mountains have snowy peaks, and you can even see glaciers. Then there’s the Pacific coastline, where you can explore tide pools filled with colorful sea creatures. With so many different landscapes and animals—like elk, black bears, and sea otters—Olympic National Park is a wild and exciting place to visit!

Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming 110, Devils Tower, WY

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:13:20 UTC

The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to learn more, explore more and define our place in the natural and cultural world.

Gateway Arch National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:17:03 UTC

Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, and Dred and Harriet Scott, who sued for their freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Everglades National Park, Florida

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:19:04 UTC

Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.

Congaree National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:21:36 UTC

Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees.

Hot Springs National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:25:24 UTC

Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of years. Ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks – all in the middle of town – make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination.

New River Gorge National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:27:28 UTC

A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:29:11 UTC

Before the first African American military pilots became known as the "Red Tails" they wore striped tails as they began their flight training in the Army's PT-17 Stearman bi-plane. Their flying adventure started at Moton Field, in Tuskegee, Alabama, where the Army Air Corps conducted a military test to determine if African Americans could be trained to fly combat aircraft.

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:32:07 UTC

Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, and it became a catalyst for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Myrlie Evers continues to promote issues of racial equality and social justice.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:36:56 UTC

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers, secretaries, welders, ministers, and students drove their communities, and the country along with them, toward justice in a series of often unsteady turns leading to the Brown v. Board decision.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial,

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:37:59 UTC

Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:40:14 UTC

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located at the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, features 21 stunning islands, a scenic 12-mile shoreline along Lake Superior, and is located within the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people. Established in 1970, the park showcases picturesque sea caves, sandy beaches, and the largest collection of lighthouses in the National Park system.

Voyageurs National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:44:33 UTC

Voyageurs National Park spans 218,000 acres of lakes, forests, and streams in northern Minnesota. Established in 1975, the park is named after the French-Canadian Voyageurs who once navigated these abundant waters. Voyageurs National Park provides exceptional opportunities for recreation and exploration amidst landscapes rich in natural beauty, history, and cultural heritage.

Effigy Mounds National Monument

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:52:25 UTC

The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings of the mounds and the people who built them. The 200 plus American Indian mounds are located in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:53:37 UTC

Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow.

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:54:37 UTC

Earthlodge people hunted bison and other game, but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries. The site was a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years prior to becoming an important market place for fur traders after 1750.

Great Basin National Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:55:28 UTC

From the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak to the sagebrush-covered foothills, Great Basin National Park hosts a sample of the incredible diversity of the larger Great Basin region. Come and partake of the solitude of the wilderness, walk among ancient bristlecone pines, bask in the darkest of night skies, and explore mysterious subterranean passages. There's a lot more than just desert here.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:57:58 UTC

The outdoor symbolic memorial is a place of quiet reflection, honoring victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. It encompasses the now sacred soil where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood, capturing and preserving forever the place and events that changed the world.

Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter, IN

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 18:58:54 UTC

Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails lead through shifting sand dunes, quiet woodlands, sunny prairies and lush wetlands. Known for its striking plant and bird diversity, it's easy to find inspiration throughout the park’s 15,000 acres

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 19:00:23 UTC

For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped his character and prepared him to lead the nation through Civil War. Visit our country's first memorial to Lincoln, built with donations from young and old, and the site of his childhood home.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 19:04:10 UTC

Kennesaw Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 19:06:45 UTC

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Opposing forces maneuvered and fought here from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864. Although most famous as a Civil War battlefield, Kennesaw Mountain has a much richer story.

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 19:08:47 UTC

Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influence in molding the character and shaping the political policies of the 39th President of the United States.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

jlagarde — 2025-03-06 19:11:40 UTC

Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movement. This was Martin Luther King, Jr. Explore his roots, walk in his footsteps, visit the home of his birth, and where he played as a child. Hear his voice in the church where he changed the world.