First Leg: Ft. Pickens and Hot Springs NP
The first two park sites I visited both are protected for their historical significance as well as their natural and geological beauty.
Ft. Pickens on the Gulf Islands National Seashore was one of four forts built after the War of 1812 to defend Pensacola Harbor. It then became a Union controlled fort during the Civil War. Artillery fired from Ft. Pickens led to Confederate withdrawal from Pensacola Bay. The fort then got some weapons upgrades but the new gun batteries did not get much use. Additionally, the fort was used to hold prisoners such as the well known Native American, Geronimo. The whole Gulf Islands National Seashore protects the native plants and animals of the coastline and it protects many historic sites from Native American and colonial settlements to three other forts in addition to Ft. Pickens.
The land that is now Hot Springs National Park was the first tract of land set aside by the federal government to be protected, technically making Hot Springs the first national park. The land was protected because of the water from the many hot springs was being used by the local Native Americans to cure various ailments. The trend caught on and many people came to Hot Springs to bathe in and drink the water. The town grew and bathhouses were built and the land then got the official title of National Park. After talking with volunteer Steve, I learned the story of how the water gets hot. The Zig Zag mountains (part of the Ouachita Range) that surround the town were once as tall as the Rocky Mountains. But, they got so tall they folded over and tilted causing the water collected by the mountains to travel down through the cracks and crevices until the water hit solid rock. This solid rock is deep enough below ground for the water to reach 150° F. The water then needed somewhere to go so it finds fault lines and shoots up to the surface. Where the water comes to surface are the springs, and the Park contains 47 natural hot springs. The whole water process takes 4000 years and along the way, many minerals dissolve in the water, which is why the water is believed to be so medically beneficial. The bathhouses of Bathhouse Row were very popular in the early 1900's until the 1960's. Many people traveled to be treated at the bathhouses including gangsters such as Al Capone, entertainers Gypsy Rose Lee and Tony Bennett, and many professional baseball players. Two bathhouses are currently in operation and the others are preserved by the National Park Service. A brewery leases one of the bathhouses and they brew their beer and root beer with hot spring water. This is the only brewery that is part of the National Park System. One of the bathhouses is now a museum and the park visitor's center. There they give very informative tours and answer lots of questions, which is how I learned all this info.
These sites are both great examples of how the National Park Service protects historically significant places. Within the Park Service, historical sites may be managed under different names besides "National Park" such as: National Monument, National Historic Site, National Battlefield Park, National Memorial, etc.
Examples of these sites are:
The National Mall and monuments in Washington D.C.
Valley Forge NHP
Flight 93 N Mem
New Orleans Jazz NHP
Brown v. Board of Education NHS
Manassas NBP
And many more...
The National Park Service protects the memory of many events and people of the American story. It protects places of historical significance and not just pretty landscapes - another reason the Park Service is "America's Best Idea."
To view a full list of NPS sites visit their website here. And as always, visit the Resources page of this site for ways to stay up to date on acts of Congress that effect the NPS and public lands.
