The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)

Episode Overview

In 1851, news spreads throughout the nation about the stunning beauty of California's Yosemite Valley, drawing both those eager to capitalize on its natural wonders and others determined to preserve its untouched beauty. Among the preservationists is John Muir, a Scottish immigrant whose mission to safeguard the land becomes a deep passion. By 1864, Congress enacts a groundbreaking law designating Yosemite for "public use, resort and recreation," making it the first instance in history of a government protecting land from commercial exploitation, with California taking stewardship of the area. At the same time, the unusual landscapes of geysers and mud pots in Wyoming’s northwest corner begin to attract visitors. In 1872, Congress takes action to protect this remarkable territory, establishing Yellowstone as America's first national park.