Blog

I visited: Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. There's evidence of human exploration in the cave dating back thousands of years (!). More recently, according to the NPS website, the land within the National Park is associated with seven modern Indigenous nations. This was my 13th National Park. River Styx Spring On the way back… Continue reading Mammoth Cave National Park

I visited: Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, an area many people groups have inhabited over the centuries, including the ancient Cahokia settlement and the Illini Confederacy.* I had visited once before it was established as a National Park, so I'm calling this my 12th NP. Until this year my perception of National Parks… Continue reading Gateway Arch National Park

I visited: Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Like most National Parks, the history of land ownership is complicated and fraught, and this is especially true at Badlands. The legal specifics confuse me, but presently the South Unit of Badlands is "held in trust" for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Badlands Wilderness overlook I haven't seen… Continue reading Badlands National Park

I visited: Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota. The park contains Wind Cave, one of the longest caves in the world and a site that is sacred to many Indigenous groups. Last year I visited the WCNP with Steve, but we were unable to enter the cave because of COVID-19 restrictions. This year Becca… Continue reading Wind Cave National Park

I visited: Devil's Tower National Monument. It's located in northeast Wyoming and is sacred to many Indigenous groups. Devil's Tower, known to some as Bear Lodge, was the second major stop in my road trip with Becca. It's become one of my favorite places in the country. I visited it for the first time last… Continue reading Devil’s Tower

I visited: Rocky Mountain National Park, an area originally inhabited by the Ute and Arapaho people, among others. This was my 11th National Park. Forest Canyon overlook My friend Becca invited me to join her on a road trip headed west, and the trip wound up providing an adventurous celebration for the end of my… Continue reading Rocky Mountain National Park

I visited: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It was originally inhabited from about 1000-1600 by a people group known named (awkwardly enough, in the resources I'm checking, after the archeologist who studied them) the Whittlesey. This was my 10th National Park. The Ledges Trail Steve and I traveled to Ohio for the wedding of two good… Continue reading Cuyahoga Valley National Park