Living off the Land
Humans and plants have a deeply intertwined history stretching back millions of years. We rely on plants for our very survival – for food, shelter, fuel, medicine, and the oxygen we breathe. The study of the relationships between people and plants is known as ethnobotany. Researchers in this field explore how different societies and cultures make use of their local plant communities for countless purposes, from medicines and clothing to building materials and religious practices.
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Digging into the Past
In honor of International Archeology Day – coming up this weekend – we thought we’d (ahem) dig into some of the fascinating finds uncovered at our partner parks.
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Leave No Trace!
Americans love their national parks. Well over 300 million people visit the parks each year, whether to hike the rugged badlands trails at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, tour an 18th century home at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, or thrill to the Northern Lights at Voyageurs National Park.
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Following the Stars to Freedom
Long before GPS or compasses, people navigated on both land and sea by looking at the stars. For millennia, “reading” the night sky was a reliable way to chart a traveler’s course.
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The Conservation President
When Theodore Roosevelt first stepped foot in the Dakota badlands in 1883 as a 20-something city slicker, little did he know his adventures in this remote territory would someday shape the nation’s public land policies. But his romantic attachment to the rugged landscapes and wildlife he encountered during his western travels would only strengthen as his political life progressed.By the time he became president in 1901, Roosevelt was a lifelong champion of conservation.
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War Balloons? The Rise (and Descent) of the Union Army Balloon Corps
Now here’s a new one (at least to us) – waging war from a hot air balloon. Yes, you read that right. Forget your traditional image of a colorful balloon peacefully drifting over a bucolic landscape. During the Civil War, the Union Army used hot air and hydrogen balloons to spy on Confederate positions and to direct artillery fire on the enemy.
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Bringing History to life in Ste. Genevieve
Think back to your school days. What learning experiences had the biggest impact on you, maybe even leading you to the rare “aha” moment? Chances are, it was when your teachers took you to a historic site, park, or local neighborhood to gain a hands-on, real-world experience.
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An Unlikely Friendship between Two First Ladies
On the face of it, it’s not surprising the two women became friends later in life, since their lives were remarkably similar. Still, their late-in-life friendship shocked Gilded Age America.
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