National Parks Research Paper

Throughout the history of the National Parks, there have been countless individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting the parks. These people are so crucial not only to the Parks' histories, but the history of the United States of America as well. The National Parks have shaped the ideals of the United States and have molded what Americans believe in and fight for. There are three especially notable people who have had incredible impacts on the American National Parks system: Horace Albright, John Muir, and Theodore Roosevelt. Horace Albright was the acting director of the National Parks after Steven Mathers became indisposed, around the year 1917. During this time he worked to protect the National Parks from those wanting to …show more content…
He was fascinated by nature and wrote many books and notes about Yosemite, the place which he spent the majority of his life, and also created theories about its creation, which countered the popular ideas of Josiah Whitney. Muir's philosophy about National Parks was that they must be created so that the public could celebrate nature's sacredness, opposing the beliefs of Gifford Pinchot, who believed the purpose of the National Parks was to celebrate sustainability. Some of Muir's accomplishments include the creation of the nation's fifth National Park, Mt. Reiner (1899) and the introduction of Theodore Roosevelt to the majesty of Yosemite, which eventually led to it becoming a National Park, only three years after the visit, in 1890. This outcome was was a dream come true for John Muir, as he loved the land. Soon after, a section of Yosemite, the Hetch Hetchy Valley, became a place of interest to build a dam. This completely outraged Muir, as he thought of the Hetch Hetchy as one of "nature's rarest and most precious of earth's temples." He dedicated the rest of his life to fighting the dam, however, the dam was built in 1913, four years after Muir's death. John Muir is such a notable figure because he dedicated his entire life to protect a piece of land for the entire population to enjoy forever. His contributions and passion are appreciated by everyone …show more content…
He first became involved with the National Park system because he was an avid hunter and this activity was legal in the Parks during the end of the 19th century. As his presidency continued, Roosevelt met with George Grinnell, author of the Audubon Society, who introduced him to the beauty of nature and the battle to keep Yellowstone pristine and natural. Roosevelt then visited this area, became inspired, and began looking for other lands which deserved preservation. He went on to create 5 national parks and 18 National Monuments, some of which include Devils Tower, El Moro, the Grand Canyon, and the Petrified Forrest, using the Antiquities Act of 1906. Overall, Roosevelt protected over 230 million acres of land during his time as president. Along with all of this, he also created the National Wildlife Rescue System in 1903. Theodore Roosevelt is so important to the history of the National Parks because he was incredibly active in pursuing the establishment of federally protected land. He realized that these lands must be protected for the enjoyment of all people, and therefore he made it a large part of his mission as President to do all in his power to protect the lands of America. He was incredibly influential in the National Parks Service and truly made a lasting impact on both the history of the National Parks and the history of the United States as

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Yosemite National Park Research Paper