Good morning 99percenters!

Our National Park System really is a treasure. It’s also something that we need to fiercely protect and ensure its proper funding. Even though it enjoys the support and enthusiasm of about 70% of our population, Congressional Republicans find it a rich target for their slash and burn budgets.

Writer and historian Wallace Stegner called national parks "the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst."

Some history from the NPS…

Starting in the 1800s, the scenic natural wonders of the West, places like mineral springs in Arkansas, towering mountains and majestic trees of Yosemite, spouting geysers of Yellowstone, and the arid ruins of Casa Grande, inspired individual Americans to call for their preservation, asking their government to create something called “national parks.”

In 1916, the work of caring for these places was moved to a new agency created by Congress for that specific purpose. The National Park Service was given the responsibility to not only conserve and protect parks, but also to leave them “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The job got bigger as the number and types of parks expanded. In the 1930s, military parks and national monuments were added. Then came national parkways and seashores followed by urban parks in the 1960s. During the next decade, the size of the National Park System nearly doubled with the addition of 47 million acres in Alaska.

And a few fun facts… with more on the web site.

• There are 397 units in the National Park System that go from A to Z – Abraham Lincoln Birthplace (KY) to Zion (UT).
• More than 280 million people visit the National Parks each year.
• The first National Park -- Yellowstone -- was created in 1872 through a law signed by President 
Ulysses S. Grant. The cavalry was the first caretaker.
• The largest living things in the world are in National Parks -- Sequoia trees -- and the world's largest carnivores -- Alaskan brown bears.
• National Parks have volcanoes, glaciers, white sand beaches, and dinosaur fossils.
  Russell Cave National Monument (AL) has an almost continuous record of human habitation 
going back to 7000 B.C.
• In National Parks you will find grizzly bears, Dall sheep, timber wolves, peregrine falcons, flying fox, Pacific Boa, gray whales, moose, Roosevelt Elk, and Olympic Marmot.

As you’ve probably surmised the web site is also a treasure trove of information and a handy way to plan a trip, or just learn more information about our parks and historical locations. Admission and special charges vary by park but you can get an annual pass, or earn admission by volunteering. If you’re 62, or over, you can get a lifetime pass for $10. (Hurry before Paul Ryan decides it’s too inexpensive.) Members of the military and permanently disabled US citizens get access free of charge.

There are numerous independent apps available that you can download. Many are geared to one park in particular and can serve as a hand held guide during your visit. Many are free and some charge a nominal fee. You might also want to check out The National Parks: America’s Best Idea is a six-episode PBS series produced by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Video excerpts are available on the web site.

Finally, yes this is an open thread so tell us what’s on your mind today. Links to articles of interest and diaries on your favorite topic are always welcome. And of course, you can tell us about the parks you have visited.