Stories of America’s National Parks

Overview

From Yellowstone to the Everglades, get to know America through our natural landscapes preserved by the National Park System.

Most Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Whether it is the geologic majesty of the Grand Canyon, the geysers of Yellowstone, the mountains of the Shenandoah region, or the swamps of the Florida Everglades, the landscapes and ecology of the United States are as rich and diverse as our population and cultural heritage.

Experience a taste of these national treasures with Stories of America’s National Parks. In 12 inspiring lectures, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson, author of several highly acclaimed books about American history and ecology, traverses the country to give you an insider’s look at a dozen national treasures. You’ll explore the origins, cultural legacy, and environmental import of sites from the Hawaiian islands to the Atlantic seaboard, as you:

• Explore the ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, Colorado.

• Bundle up for a hike through the high peaks of Denali National Park.

• Learn about the timber industry and the protection of the great sequoias in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

• Experience paradise on Earth in Maine’s Acadia National Park.

National parks were not a given. Americans often disagreed about their importance—and which landscapes were worth saving. From the depths of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky to the ancient ruins of Mesa Verde to the dark sky of Death Valley, Dr. Nelson shows that the conflicts over 150 years have been an important part of the National Park System’s phenomenal achievements and complex history.

Course Structure

01: Yellowstone: America’s First National Park

Venture back in time to witness the birth of the National Park System. Here, you’ll meet Ferdinand Hayden, a scientist who lobbied to explore Yellowstone in the 1870s. Once he recognized what a treasure this region was—including forests, geysers, and other natural wonders—he convinced the federal government to protect the land for posterity.

Duration: 33 min

02: The Majestic Giants of Sequoia National Park

Travel to California’s Sierra Nevada mountains to stand among the world’s largest trees. More than a century ago, conservationists recognized not only the great beauty of this unusual forest, but also the threat posed by loggers and economic development—resulting in the creation of Sequoia National Park.

Duration: 27 min

03: Mesa Verde: Preserving Ancient Ruins

Mesa Verde National Park offers an astonishing combination of environmental beauty and cultural heritage. Dr. Nelson takes you on a journey through the American southwest, where ancient cliff dwellings offer archaeological insight into Pueblo history.

Duration: 27 min

04: Hawaii Volcanoes: Parks as Science Labs

Shift your attention from the American West to the Pacific Ocean, where the fiery spectacle of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park captures the imagination. Central to the geologic story of Hawai‘i’s Big Island is Pele, the goddess of creation and destruction, who is central to this park’s cultural heritage.

Duration: 28 min

05: Denali: What’s in a Name?

Bundle up as you ascend the heights of Denali National Park, the tallest peak in North America. The park’s rich cultural history includes Indigenous groups who have called Alaska home for thousands of years. These groups—along with gold miners, big-game hunters, and mountaineers—all played a role in preserving this awe-inspiring wilderness.

Duration: 28 min

06: Grand Canyon: Building on the Edge

Many of us have fond memories of visiting the Grand Canyon with our families, but what is the story behind Grand Canyon National Park? What do the geological formations tell us about millions of years of Earth’s history? And how did one of the nation’s foremost architects work to shape visitor experiences at the Grand Canyon? Deepen your understanding of one of America’s most famous landscapes.

Duration: 30 min

07: Philanthropy and Park Creation at Acadia

Discover the rugged beauty of coastal Maine. Here, you’ll see how wealthy vacationers, the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, the preservationist George Bucknam Dorr, and many others worked to create Acadia National Park, which today is a striking symbol of cultural preservation and innovative landscape architecture.

Duration: 29 min

08: Shenandoah: Who Owns a View?

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a significant testament to America’s natural beauty and complex history. From the native Monacan people to “hollow” residents to activists working for integration during the civil rights era, those who have lived in and loved the Shenandoah region are all part of the captivating history of the easternmost rampart of the Appalachian Range.

Duration: 29 min

09: The Power of Water in the Everglades

Head south to the tropics of Florida, where conservationists like Marjory Stoneman Douglas battled to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades. Along with examining the park’s biodiversity, Dr. Nelson walks you through the region’s history of exploitation and preservation.

Duration: 29 min

10: The Vast Underground World of Mammoth Cave

Not all national parks can be viewed from the surface. Head underground with Dr. Nelson to travel through Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park, the world’s longest cave system. Learn about the history of mining and exploration in the caves—including the life of Stephen Bishop, an enslaved man who became a pioneering cave guide in the 19th century.

Duration: 30 min

11: Saving the Desert in Death Valley

Return above ground to the harsh deserts of Death Valley National Park, which at 3.4 million acres is the largest national park in the continental United States. In addition to its size, the park is known for its extreme weather conditions and its dark sky views at night. Delve into this wonder of contradictions.

Duration: 29 min

12: White Sands: A Landscape of Warfare

Your course wraps up with a look at White Sands National Park. Located amid desert dunes in New Mexico, the history of White Sands ranges from Indigenous hunting and gathering to the US military’s atomic bomb tests in the 1940s—a testament to the complexity of interaction between human and natural worlds.

Duration: 36 min