I love living near Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and donating hours each week to volunteering in various capacities. I embrace the idea that Ken Burns and others promoted about the story of the US National Parks as uniquely American and radical in that the “most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone.”
This movement is monumental, and I applaud the efforts to expand the story of these special places that include natural beauty and wildlife habitat, historical events, and cultural significance.
The National Park Service (NPS) was established in 1916. The creation marked a significant milestone in the conservation movement in the United States as it aimed to protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations. Today, the NPS manages over 400 sites including national parks, monuments, historic sites, and recreational areas. Recent efforts have promoted the understanding and appreciation of diverse natural and cultural resources.
This inclusion involves acknowledging events that are not necessarily happy stories. Yet, these accounts are necessary to honor American history. In the past month, the Amache Historical Site was dedicated near Granada, Colorado. It was one of ten incarceration sites during World War II to unjustly incarcerate Japanese Americans. The website suggests it is “a place to reflect, recommit, and further the pursuit of freedom and justice.” In New York City last month, I visited the African Burial Ground National Monument. I had no idea about that history.
Although RMNP is almost 110 years old, telling the story of the park is moving toward recognizing better what Indigenous people contributed. One of the interpretive rangers working on this project emphasizes that the natural and cultural history is not being rewritten, but the story of RMNP can be more inclusive with better interpretations of the history through collaboration with Indigenous communities.
It remains crucial for the NPS to continue to address issues often overlooked in American history. I am proud that Rocky Mountain National Park is working to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable representation of America’s diverse heritage within this national park.
Glad you broached this topic. It’s important for everyone to know and acknowledge the past histories of these important places through a variety of lens that reflect past preferences (social, environmental,management, etc.), prejudices, etc. Important so some of the”invisibilities” become “seen”.