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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We Welcome Two New NPS Partners
It’s official! JNPA has proudly added two National Park Service sites in North Dakota to our portfolio of public lands partners: Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.
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The Legacy of Harriet Scott
Who was Harriet Scott? If you can’t place her, don’t feel bad. She is usually only mentioned in connection with her more famous husband, Dred. Does that ring a bell?
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Listen to Your Park!
When we visit a national park, most of us focus on what we see: a waterfall, a historic building, a field of wildflowers, a soaring monument. But what if you closed your eyes and just…listened? We bet the sounds you’d hear would make your park visit that much richer.
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Mni Ówe Sni: Honoring an Indigenous Site
It is a 29-acre prairie and oak savanna graced with a freshwater spring that flows year-round. And it is also steeped in thousands of years of history, of both Indigenous people and European/American settlers. And now the area has a new name that honors its complex heritage.
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