Video: National Parks: America's Best Idea
The film is a human history set against the most stunning backdrop imaginable. The film works its way chronologically through the history of the national parks featuring characters -- some famous, most not, from every walk of life -- who dedicated their lives to insuring all could enjoy these places. The film explores how the national park system came to be and examines some -- but not all --of how these majestic places came to be national parks.
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Schullery & Hartzog | PBS
Historian Paul Schullery and former National Park Service director George Hartzog describe the power of the national parks. 01:30
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Collecting Parks
Tuan Luong, a climber and photographer who was so captivated by the splendor of the national parks that he decided to continue his studies in California just to be near El Capitan and Yosemite... 03:08
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THE NATIONAL PARKS | Yosemite's Buffalo Soldiers | PBS
Yosemite ranger Shelton Johnson and his rediscovered the story of the African American soldiers who patrolled the parks of the High Sierra at the turn of the last century. 11:31
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THE NATIONAL PARKS | Mount Rushmore: Telling America's Stories | PBS
Focuses on the new interpretive program at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, spearheaded by Supt. Gerard Baker. 09:33
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THE NATIONAL PARKS | Manzanar: "Never Again" | PBS
Stories of Japanese internment during World War II, Sue Kunitomi Embrey's efforts to commemorate Manzanar internment camp, and the ongoing work of Manzanar National Historic Site to educate visitors... 14:21
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THE NATIONAL PARKS | City Kids in National Parks | PBS
City Kids in National Parks explores National Park Service efforts to bring inner city kids into the parks, often for their first encounters with wilderness. 13:40
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THE NATIONAL PARKS | San Antonio Missions: Keeping History Alive | PBS
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a thriving hub for the city's Latino community, 12:10
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICAS BEST IDEA | John Wesley Hill
Features a John Wesley Hill quotation that asks what inspires love of the flag, that tunes the ear of America to sing, My country, 'tis of thee. 01:28
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Mesa Verde | PBS
Cowboys searching for stray cattle in southwestern Colorado came upon the ruins of an ancient city tucked into the side of a cliff. Ken Burnss newest film, THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICAS BEST IDEA,... 05:23
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICAS BEST IDEA | Mt Rainier & Iwao Matsushita | PBS
Iwao Matsushita, a Japanese citizen who moved to Seattle in 1919, organized outings to nearby Mount Rainier National Park. 02:41
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Truman Everts
The harrowing story of Vermonter Truman C. Everts, who gets separated from an expedition in Yellowstone. He is found 37 days later, but is he alive? 05:46
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Ranger Johnson Arrives at Yellowstone | PBS
At the entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a stone arch inscribed with the words "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Park ranger Shelton Johnson discusses his arrival at this famed... 00:52
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Automobiles | PBS
Author Bill Cronon discusses the impact that cars had on family vacations taken in the parks in the 1950s. 01:01
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | The Gehrkes | PBS
Over nearly 30 years, park enthusiasts Margaret and Edward Gehrke from Lincoln, Nebraska, made pilgrimages to national parks across the country. 04:45
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Totuya | PBS
In July 1929, 90-year-old Maria Lebrado returned to the Yosemite Valley in California for the first time since she was a young girl. 02:27
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Chiura Obata | PBS
Ken Burns's newest film tells the story of Chiura Obata, a promising young painter whose original intention was to stay only briefly in America until a life-changing visit to Yosemite. 05:07
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | Park's Protection | PBS
When Congress failed to appropriate money for the park's protection in 1886, General Philip Sheridan sent the US Cavalry to Yellowstone to maintain order in the park 03:42
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PBS at the TV Critics Press Tour | Duncan / Johnson interview
Zadi Diaz interviews Dayton Duncan, the writer and co-producer of THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA, and park ranger Shelton Johnson. 06:25
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PBS at the TV Critics Press Tour | Ken Burns interview
Video blogger Zadi Diaz interviews filmmaker Ken Burns, about his documentary THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA. 08:23
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THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA | George Melendez Wright | PBS
George Melendez Wright was the first person in history to propose and conduct a survey of wildlife and plantlife conditions in America's parks. 03:55
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