The big burn : Teddy Roosevelt and the fire that saved America
Timothy Egan.
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.
In "The Worst Hard Time," Egan puts the environmental disaster of the Dust Bowl at the center of a rich history. Now he performs the same alchemy with "The Big Burn," detailing the largest-ever forest fire in America.
The national parks : America's best idea : an illustrated history
by Dayton Duncan ; with a preface by Ken Burns ; picture research by Susanna Steisel and Aileen Silverstone.
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.
The companion volume to the new Ken Burns film: a magnificently illustrated history of the American National Park System. In a rich, evocative, deeply informative narrative, Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns examine how each new park was brought into the system--from the adventures and mythmaking to the intense political battles--and capture the particular importance, splendors, and ideals embodied in each place. They introduce us to the people who were instrumental in the establishment and continued protection of the parks, from the famous figures--John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller Jr. among them--to the unsung men and women. Here too are six extended interviews with people whose lives have been shaped by their connections to the American landscape (including Terry Tempest Williams) and a vast array of breathtaking photographs, both archival and contemporary. A glorious celebration of one of the most essential expressions of American democracy.
The eco barons : the dreamers, schemers, and millionaires who are saving our planet
Edward Humes.
New York, NY : HarperCollins, c2009.
Pulitzer Prize-winner and bestselling author Humes examines a crucial crossroads in environmental preservation--and the remarkable steps taken by philanthropists and visionaries who dedicate their lives to saving land from destruction.
American wilderness : the national parks
edited by Letitia Burns O'Connor & Dana Levy ; introduction by Michael Duchemin ; essays by Susan Burke ... [et al.] ; principal photography by Tom Bean .. [et. al.].
New York : Universe, c2009.
From the rocky shoreline of Maine’s Acadia to the barren crater and lush rainforest of Hawaii’s Haleakala, America’s natural beauty is celebrated and preserved in its national parks. This beautiful volume will encourage readers to experience our national treasures with a greater awareness of their history and unique qualities. American Wilderness features 200 full-color photographs capturing the breathtaking beauty of the parks, along with a summary of each park’s history. The most important features and particular wildlife of each park are discussed in the individual entries, and the information contained within will enthrall armchair travelers and entice others to lace up their hiking boots and reach for the sporting gear. Parks featured in the book include: Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Everglades, Mammoth Cave, Isle Royale, Carlsbad Caverns, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Channel Islands, Sequoia, Redwoods, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Hawaii Volcanoes, Glacier Bay, Denali, and Katmai.
The golden age of battlefield preservation : the decade of the 1890s and the establishment of America's first five military parks
Timothy B. Smith ; with a foreword by Edwin C. Bearss.
Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, c2008.
Smith (history, U. of Tennessee at Martin), a former military park ranger, notes that the 1890s was a perfect time for survivors to establish national parks on civil war battlegrounds, citing Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Shiloh, Antietam, and Vicksburg as examples. He feels that in this period the bitterness and racial tensions of reconstruction had waned and such sites have not yet become valuable in next industrial revolution to come. In addition, man the war's veterans from both sides still survived and wished to come together in a spirit of reconciliation and brotherhood. The result was the country's finest military parks and sources of research. Smith describes how each of the sites was established, who led the effort, and how the necessary legislation was written and implemented. He includes notes on park commissioners and board members. Annotation #169;2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Treasures of America's national parks. 6, The Rockies & beyond
Chicago, IL : Distributed by Questar, 2008.
- DVD.
- In Glacier National Park, reach up to the clouds among America's most scenic mountain pass, raft a wild river and take and unforgettable trek along the Highline Trail. Explore a region renowned for its panoramic beauty, icefields, and more.
- Glacier National Park -- Canadian Rockies: Banff & Jasper -- British Columbia: Vancouver & beyond.
