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The National Parks

The Empire Of Grandeur (1915-1919)

Season 1 Episode 3

In the early 20th century, America has a dozen national parks, but they are a haphazard patchwork of special places under the supervision of different federal agencies. The conservation movement, after failing to stop the Hetch Hetchy dam, pushes the government to establish one unified agency to oversee all the parks, leading to the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916.

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 Morning of Creation (1946-1980)
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1:55:42
Examine the proliferation of protected lands and the protection of predatory animals.
Great Nature (1933-1945)
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1:55:41
Learn about the changes to the national parks during the Great Depression and WWII.
Going Home (1920-1933)
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1:56:43
Encounter the growing numbers of visitors to the parks.
The Last Refuge (1890-1915)
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2:13:24
Investigate the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and others to protect the land.
The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890)
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1:55:41
Examine the radical idea of creating national parks for the enjoyment of everyone.
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