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The National Parks
The Park Idea
Over a montage of images of the country's most spectacular landscapes, writer Dayton Duncan talks about the notion that is at the heart of the park idea: namely that the people own the land. The magnificent views of mountains, waterfalls and canyons belong not to an exclusive few, but to everyone and this is what makes it a truly democratic idea.
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1:55:42
Examine the proliferation of protected lands and the protection of predatory animals.
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1:55:41
Learn about the changes to the national parks during the Great Depression and WWII.
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1:56:43
Encounter the growing numbers of visitors to the parks.
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1:52:33
Learn about the federal agency created to protect the parks.
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2:13:24
Investigate the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and others to protect the land.
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1:55:41
Examine the radical idea of creating national parks for the enjoyment of everyone.