THE NATIONAL PARKS:
LESSER-KNOWN
AREAS
As the nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under United States administration.
LESSER-KNOWN PARKS: DOORWAYS TO ADVENTURE
Few travelers are familiar with most parks described here. Many are located away from principal highways or are relatively new to the National Park System." And most, but not all, are smaller than the more popular parks. Yet these sites contain nationally significant scenic and cultural resources, many of comparable quality to the more famous parks.
The natural areas offer a fascinating variety-lush forests, desert landscapes, massive gorges, fields of wildflowers, and natural and man-made lakes. They serve as precious habitat for wild creatures--bears, mountain lions, foxes, bighorn sheep, deer, eagles, owls, and waterfowl.
Many lesser-known parks are historical areas, such as battlefields of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, forts along the routes of western exploration and migration, ruins of the dwelling places of pre-Columbian native peoples, and homes of Presidents and other men and women who contributed significantly to the nation's progress.
Many of these parks offer both natural beauty and historical interest. Even during busy seasons, they are not are not heavily used, so you may explore them and learn there secrets at your leisure.
PREPARE FOR A PARK VISIT
About one-fifth of these lesser-known parks charge an entrance fee of $3 to $10 per private passenger vehicle or $1 to $5 per person. If you plan to visit several parks that have entrance fees, you can save money with the $50 Golden Eagle Pass. It provides entry to all national park areas for one calendar year. Visitors 62 and over qualify for a Golden Age Pass. The pass has a one time charge of $10 and it is a lifetime pass. It provides free entry and a 50-percent discount on federal camping and other use fees. Proof of age is required: applicants must appear in person. Blind and permanently disabled persons who qualify for disability benefits under one of several federal programs may obtain a free lifetime Golden Access Pass. It must be applied for in person and provides the same privileges as the Golden Age Pass. All three passes are available at recreation fee areas.
ENJOYING YOUR VISITS
Try to make the visitor center your first stop at any park. There you will find information on attractions, facilities. and activities, such as scenic drives. nature trails. and historic tours. Descriptive films, literature, and exhibits will acquaint you with the geology. history, and plant and animal life of the area. The park staff will answer questions about accommodations, services. and the accessibility of attractions. Most parks described in this book do not offer meals and lodging.
Many parks can provide assistance for those who have visual, auditory, or other physical limitations. Most have parking lots, restrooms, and other features that are accessible to disabled persons. If accessibility is important to you, however, inquire in advance.
Care for Persons and Resources
Observe common-sense safety rules. Natural hazards abound in outdoor areas. especially for those unfamiliar with such terrain. Watch your children. Never approach wild animals, even small ones. If you swim or climb or take hiking trips. do so with a partner, and tell someone on the park staff where you will be. Historic buildings are old: watch for low doorways and steep steps.
Please remember that our parks protect natural and cultural resources that can be fragile. To avoid inadvertent damage, please follow the suggestions of park staffs. Special restrictions sometimes apply to backpacking or boating to protect backcountry areas from overuse. Free permits to use certain backcountry trails and areas are issued at the parks. In some cases. such permits may be obtained by mail in advance.
OTHER SITES TO VISIT
Many of these parks are close to state parks, national forests, and other reservations providing additional recreational and camping opportunities. Information on such areas is available from state travel bureaus or from federal land managers. The latter include the Forest Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: and the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
National Park Handbooks
Official National Park Handbooks exist for many of the parks described in this
directory and guide. Though many of these areas are not well known, the stories
they embrace are integral parts of our history. culture. and heritage. For
information about how to obtain the official handbook that explores the area or
areas you are interested in, call or write to the park superintendent before
your visit. Telephone numbers and addresses are listed for each park.
Horseshoe
Bend National Military Park Site of the battle of March 27. 1814, on the
Tallapoosa River. General Andrew Jackson's forces broke the power of Creek
Indian Confederacy and opened Alabama and other Old Southwest areas to
settlement. Visitor center, self-guiding tour of battlefield. nature trail,
exhibits. flintlock rifle demonstrations, hiking, picnic area, launching
ramps. Accommodations: Meals and lodging available in Dadeville and Alexander City. Camping facilities in Wind Creek State Park, Talledega National Forest, Mt. Cheaha State Park, nearby. Russell Cave
National Monument Archeological site of 8.000 years of human life on this continent, encompassing Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian Periods. Visitor center with museum, cave shelter audiovisual program, nature trail, hiking trail, horse trail, film and slide programs, archaic weapons demonstrations, lunch area. Location: 8 miles west of Bridgeport. From U.S. Route 72 at Bridgeport, follow Jackson County Roads 91 and 75. Accommodations: Meals and lodging available in South Pittsburgh, Tenn., and Stevenson. Ala. Tuskegee
Institute National Historic Site Booker T. Washington is credited with having founded this college for black Americans in 1881. Preserved here are student-made brick buildings; The Oaks, family home of Booker T. Washington; the George W. Carver Museum; and an antebellum mansion, Grey Columns, which is the visitor center. Bookstore, exhibits, film and slide presentations, selfguiding tours of historic campus district and Carver Museum, guided tours at The Oaks, self-guiding nature trail. Location: On Old Montgomery Road State Route 1261 adjacent to the city of Tuskegee. Accommodations: Meals and lodging on Tuskegee Institute's campus during regular academic periods. and within the city of Tuskegee. Forest Service camping facilities within 15 miles of the site. Katmai
National Park and Preserve Box 7, King Salmon, AK 99613 Rugged shoreline backed by mountain wilderness and the dying Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Home of the brown bear and bald eagle. Fishing, camping, guided tours, hiking, wildlife sanctuary. nature trails, chartered boats available. Location: Katmai is 250 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Travel from King Salmon to Brooks River is by amphibious bush aircraft. Accommodations: Modern facilities at Brooks River Lodge and Lake Grosvenor. Write to the lodges at the park address. Klondike Gold
Rush National Historical Park Combining the historic district of downtown Skagway and the old Trail of '98 from Skagway to the Chilkoot and White Passes, the park reflects an atmosphere of the old-time gold rush era. This unit complements the Visitor Center in Seattle's Pioneer Square, where gold seekers took off for the Klondike. Exhibit, museum, self-guiding tour/trail, picnic area, camping. hiking. Location: Skagway, Alaska. Chilkoot Trail begins 12 miles west of Skagway at the ghost town of Dyea and ends at Bennett. Accessible by boat. plane. or highway. Accommodations: Food and lodging in Skagway. Campgrounds at Skagway and Dyea. Sitka
National Historical Park Battleground where Russian supremacy over Tlingit Indians was achieved in 1804. Site of Russian fort, totem poles, and other artifacts. Visitor center, self-guiding trails, native crafts workshops, museum exhibits, totem poles, picnic area. Location Located on Baranof Island in southeastern Alaska, the park may be reached by scheduled airlines from Seattle, Juneau, and Anchorage. Sitka is a port of call on the Alaska Marine Highway System. Accommodations: The park is within walking distance of downtown Sitka's hotel accommodations and meals. New Alaska Parklands Ten other lesser-known parks in Alaska were authorized in their present forms by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. These parks have almost no federal facilities and usually no accommodations other than primitive camping. Some can be visited by automobile, bus, or railway; others can be reached only by air. These parks reward those who can visit them with some of Earth's most magnificent scenery. All exceed one-half million acres in size: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve encompasses more than 13 million acres. They provide habitat for a marvelous assortment of wildlife. Subsistence hunting is permitted in some of these national parks. Both subsistence and sport hunting are permitted in the national preserves. Brief descriptions of these 10 areas follow. Aniakchak
National Monument and Preserve Aniakchak Caldera covers some 30 square miles in the volcanically active Aleutian Mountains. Aniakchak last erupted in 1931. Surprise Lake's waters cascade through the crater wall to form Aniakchak Wild River. Access: Scheduled, then chartered airplane or floatplane. Bering Land
Bridge National Preserve The preserve, on northwest Alaska's Seward Peninsula, is a remnant of the land bridge that connected Asia and North America some 13,000 years ago. Archeological resources abound, and large populations of migratory birds nest here. Access: Scheduled, then chartered aircraft. Cape
Krusenstern National Monument Archeological sites dating back some 4,000 years along 114 successive lateral beach ridges illustrate Eskimo communities of all known cultural periods in Alaska. Access: Scheduled aircraft, then chartered aircraft and boats. Gates of the
Arctic Jagged peaks, gentle arctic valleys, and numerous lakes characterize this park and preserve north of the Arctic Circle. Includes part of the Central Brooks Range, the northernmost extension of the Rocky Mountains. Contains all or part of several wild rivers: Alatna, John, Kobuk, Tinayguk, Noatak, and North Fork of the Koyukuk. Access: Scheduled, then chartered aircraft. Kenai Fjords
National Park The park is 10 miles from Seward. Contains one of the nation's four major ice caps -- 700 square-mile Harding Ice Field -- coastal fjords, islands, and rich, varied rain forest. Home to sea lions, sea otters, and seals. Breeding grounds for tens of thousands of birds. Access: By air or highway, charter boat or aircraft. Kobuk Valley
National Park The park embraces the Kobuk River's central valley, north of the Arctic Circle. Wildlife includes brown and black bears, wolf, fox, and migrating caribou. The 25-square-mile Great Kobuk Sand Dunes rise above surrounding terrain. Contains Salmon Wild River. Access: Scheduled aircraft, then chartered aircraft or boats. Lake Clark
National Park and Preserve Jagged peaks, granite spires, two active volcanoes and the 50-mile-long lake set in the Chigmit Mountains along Cook Inlet's western shore. The lake, fed by hundreds of waterfalls, provides important red salmon spawning ground. Contains Chilikadrotna, Mulchatna, and Tlikakila Wild Rivers. Access: Chartered aircraft. Noatak
National Preserve Protects the nation's largest untouched river basin and part of Noatak Wild River, with its 65-mile-long Grand Canyon. A transition zone and migration route for plants and animals between arctic and sub-arctic environments. Contains hundreds of archeological sites and bounteous wildlife populations. Access: Scheduled, then chartered aircraft. Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park and Preserve Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias Mountains converge here. This largest National Park System area adjoins Canada's Kluane National Park. Mountains, valleys, and river basins feature abundant wildlife. Access: By highway, then 4-wheel-drive vehicle or chartered aircraft. Yukon-Charley
Rivers National Preserve Contains 115 miles of the historic Yukon River, and the entire 88-mile Charley River basin. The Charley boasts outstanding whitewater. Old cabins and relics recall the 1898 gold rush. Falcons nest in high bluffs. Access: Highway or scheduled aircraft, then chartered aircraft or boat. Canyon de
Chelly National Monument Ruins of Indian villages built between A.D. 350 and 1300 at the base of sheer red cliffs and in caves in canyon walls. Modern Navajo Indian homes and farms. Picnicking, campgrounds, scenic drive, ruins, pictographs, hiking on White House ruin, guided tours, museum. Location: From Gallup, N. Mex., northwest on U.S. 666 to N. Mex. 264 to U.S. 191 to Chinle. Accommodations: Meals, lodging, and jeep tours at Thunderbird Lodge at monument. Write to lodge at Box 548, Chinle, AZ 86503 for reservations. Casa Grande
National Monument Ruins of massive four-story building constructed of high-lime desert soil by Indians who farmed the Gila Valley 600 years ago. Day use area only. High summer temperatures. Visitor center. museum, guided tours, self-guiding trail, picnicking, private campground nearby. Location: Within the town of Coolidge, on Highway 87, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Coolidge and city of Casa Grande. Chiricahua
National Monument Varied rock formations created millions of years ago by volcanic activity. Chiricahua Mountains rise steeply from the desert like a forested island. Trails provide views of all park features. Visitor center, campgrounds, scenic drive. hiking, self-guiding trails, picnicking. Location: 36 miles southeast of Willcox, Ariz., off Rt. 186. Accommodations: Meals and lodging and commercial campground in Willcox. Small camping area in monument's Bonita Canyon. Coronado
National Memorial Commemorates first European exploration of Southwest, by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, 154042. View of part of route Coronado expedition used to enter present United States from Mexico. High summer temperatures. Hiking, exhibits, trails, picnicking, visitor center. Location: 22 miles south of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and 30 miles southwest of Bisbee, Ariz., off Route 92. Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Sierra Vista and Bisbee. Camping 18 miles west at Forest Service campgrounds at Parker Lake. Fort Bowie
National Historic Site Ruins of fort established 1862. Focal point of military operations against Geronimo and his band of Apaches. A walk-in and day use area only. Rugged 1.5-mile sand and gravel trail leads from parking lot to the site. Picnic tables at the site. Ruins of fort, small museum, hiking. Location: From Willcox on Interstate 10, drive 12 miles south on State Route 186 to graded road leading east to Apache Pass. Or from Bowie on Interstate 10, drive 12 miles south on a graded dirt road and bear west into Apache Pass. Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Bowie or Willcox. National Park Service campground 25 miles southwest at Chiricahua National Monument. Hubbell
Trading Post National Historic Site Still-active trading post illustrates the influence of reservation traders on the Indian way of life. Indian crafts for sale, self-guiding trail, interpretive programs, weaving demonstrations. Location: On Navajo' Indian Reservation, one mile west of Ganado, and 55 miles from Gallup. N. Mex. Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Window Rock, Ariz., 30 miles from Hubbell, off Ariz. 264. College of Ganado (limited motel units). Three Mission Restaurant. Navajo
National Monument Two of the most elaborate and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the Southwest: Betatakin, 135 rooms, and Keel Seel, 157 rooms. Both occupied during late 13th century by Pueblo peoples. Daily guided tours into the canyon/ prehistoric sites late spring through early fall. Limited to 20 people per tour. Self-guiding overlook trail, picnicking, camping, visitor center, exhibits, museum, campfire programs in summer, Navajo art and crafts shops. Location: Twenty miles northwest from Kayenta on Highway 160, turn north on Highway 564 for ten miles. Highway 564 ends at park boundary: not a through highway to Page. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Kayenta. Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument Named for cactus species rare in the United States. Protects desert plants, animals, and natural features in segment of the Sonoran Desert, which stretches from northwestern Mexico to southeastern California. Contains traces of the historic trail, Camino del Diablo. Visitor center, interpretive programs, scenic drives and hikes. This area visited mostly during winter months when climate is more temperate. Location: At junction of Interstates 8 and 80, take State Route 85 south. Headquarters is 40 miles south of town of Ajo. From Tucson, take State Route 86 west to Route 85. Headquarters is 12 miles south of this junction. Accommodations: Campground 1.5 miles south of visitor center. Some accommodations in Lukeville and in Sonoita, Mexico. Accommodations in Ajo, 40 miles north. Pipe Spring
National Monument Historic fort and other structures built by Mormon pioneers. Homes, bunkhouses, work sheds, and corrals typical of 19th-century ranches. Tour of fort and grounds, picnicking. Location Fifteen miles southwest of Fredonia, Ariz. Reached from Alt. U.S. 89 via Ariz. 389. From 1-15, Utah 9 and 17 connect with Utah 59 at Hurricane, Utah. Paved road leads to the monument from there. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Fredonia and Hurricane. Sunset Crater
Volcano National Monument 1,000-foot volcanic cinder cone. Formed A.D. 1064-1065. with lava flows and related igneous features. Cinders of Summit Crater give illusion of perpetual sunset. Volcanic crater, visitor center, self-guiding nature trail. Connected to Wupatki National Monument by paved road through Coconino National Forest. Forest Service campground across from visitor center. Location: From Flagstaff, take U.S. 89 north about 16 miles to monument entrance. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff. Tonto
National Monument Well-preserved cliff dwelling occupied in 13th and 14th centuries by Solado Indians farming Salt River Valley. Most visitors come in winter. when climate is more temperate. The monument lies above 4,000 feet, however, and receives some summer breezes. Visitor center. Indian ruins, exhibits, self-guiding trails, picnic areas, camping in nearby Tonto National Forest. Day use area only. Location: From Phoenix, take U.S. 60-70 to Apache Junction, take State Route 88 northeast to Roosevelt. Monument turnoff is 2 miles southeast, in Roosevelt. Accommodations: Meals in Roosevelt. Meals and lodging 25 miles southeast at Globe. Tumacacori
National Historical Park Ruins of 19th-century Spanish colonial mission community. Day use area only. Visitor center. self-guiding trails. ruins, museum. weekend craft demonstrations, picnicking. Favorable weather throughout the winter. Location: Exit 29 on Interstate 19, 19 miles north of Nogales and 45 miles south of Tucson. Accommodations: Meals available in nearby restaurants. Meals and lodging at Nogales, Rio Rico (8 miles), and Tucson. Forest Service campground at Pena Blanca Lake, 21 miles south and west of the monument. Tuzigoot
National Monument Excavated ruins of large Indian pueblo that flourished in the Verde Valley between 1000 and 1400 A.D. Day use area only. Visitor center, ruins, Indian exhibits. Location: 48 miles southwest of Flagstaff, off U.S. 89A. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Clarkdale and Cottonwood, 2 miles from the monument. Walnut Canyon
National Monument Cliff dwellings in shallow caves under limestone ledges. Built by Pueblo Indians about 800 years ago. Access to cliff dwellings is a steep set of rugged steps. It is a hardy walk. Day use area only. Visitor center, cliff dwellings, self-guiding trail, picnic area. Location: Off U.S. 66, Interstate 40, 12 miles east of Flagstaff. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff. Wupatki
National Monument Ruins of masonry pueblos built by Sinagua and Anasazi Indian farmers between A.D. 100 and 1225. Part of complex prehistoric story of struggle for survival in a harsh climate. Visitor center, ruins, self-guiding trails, picnic area. Connected to Sunset Crater National Monument by paved road leading from Coconino National Forest. Forest Service campground 18 miles south. across from Sunset Crater visitor center. Location: Off U.S. 89, 30 miles north of Flagstaff. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Flagstaff. Arkansas Post
National Memorial Exhibits, visitor center, audiovisual program, historic walking tour, wildlife sanctuary, fishing, picnicking. Location: Arkansas Post is on Ark. 169, 7 miles south of Gillett via U.S. 165, and about 20 miles northeast of Dumas via U.S. 165. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Gillett and Dumas. Fort Smith
National Historic Site One of the first U.S. military posts in the Louisiana Territory. From 1817 to 1896, a center of authority for the untamed region to the west. Visitor center, self-guiding tour of fort, commercial campground nearby. Group tours can be arranged. Location: Downtown Fort Smith, on Rogers Avenue, between Second and Third Streets. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Fort Smith. Pea Ridge
National Military Park Scene of major Civil War engagement west of the Mississippi, on March 7-8, 1862. Selfguiding auto tour of battlefield, visitor center, museum exhibits, picnic area, commercial campground one mile away, Army Corps of Engineers campground within 10 miles. Guided group tours can be arranged. Location: 98 miles north of Fort Smith on U.S. 62. Accommodations: Meals and lodging at Rogers, Ark., 10 miles southwest. Channel
Islands National Park Location: Off the southern California coast. Islands can be reached by commercial or private boat, or private aircraft. Special permits may be required for landing or docking. Devils
Postpile National Monument Hot lava cooled and cracked 900,000 years ago to form basalt columns 40 to 60 feet high. These resemble a giant pipe organ. Crossed by the John Muir Trail between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks. Monument created from Inyo National Forest lands. Hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, picnicking, interpretive talks, small visitor center. Location: Reached by a 16-mile drive from U.S. 395. Shuttle bus operates from Minaret Summit to the monument in summer (nominal fee). Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Mammoth Lakes, 13 miles, or Reds Meadow, 4 miles. Eugene O'Neil
National Historic Site America's most important playwrite lived here at Tao House from 1937-44. Several of his best plays were written here. Location: Eastern San Francisco Bay Area. Call in Advance to arrange transportation to park from Danville. John Muir
National Historic Site John Muir House and adjacent Martinez Adobe commemorate Muir's contribution to conservation and literature. Guided house tours. audiovisual shows, lectures, picnicking. This is a day use area. Location: Martinez, California, San Francisco Bay Area. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Martinez. Lava Beds
National Monument Unusual exhibits of volcanic activity, grassland, chaparral, and pine forest communities. Principal theater of Modoc Indian War, 1872-73. Abuts Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge on north. Scenic Medicine Lake country nearby. Visitor center, hiking, exhibits, museum, nature trails, picnic area, campgrounds (May 1 - October 1), cave explorations, summer interpretive programs. No concessioners. Bring film. Location: 30 miles south of Tulelake and 60 miles south of Klamath Falls, Oregon, off California Route 139. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Tulelake. Pinnacles
National Monument Spire-like rock formations, 500 to 1,200 feet high, with caves and volcanic features. Exemplary Coast Range chaparral. Many colorful wildflowers in spring. Camping, picnicking, visitor center, interpretive talks, hiking and nature trails. Note: Caves may be closed temporarily. Location: East entrance 35 miles south of Hollister on Calif. Route 146. West entrance 11 miles east of Soledad on Calif. Route 146. State route is not a trans-park road. Rugged Gabilan Mountain Range forms principal park features and bisects road. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Hollister on east, and King City, 30 miles southwest. Commercial campground on the east; short walk into National Park Service campground on the west. Bent's Old
Fort National Historic Site Principal outpost of Anglo-American presence on the Southern Plains. A trading center for Indians and a significant fur-trading post on the Santa Fe Trail. Reconstructed adobe fort with rooms furnished in period style, self-guiding tour of the fort, archeological collection, living history interpretation, annual rendezvous re-enactment. Location: 8 miles east of La Junta and 15 miles west of Las Animas, Colo., on Colo. 194. La Junta served by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. 68 miles east of Pueblo. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in La Junta and Los Animas, Colo. Black Canyon
of the Gunnison National Monument Sheer-walled canyon. Shadowed depths accentuate darkness of ancient rocks of obscure origin. Camping, fishing, hiking, nature trail, scenic overlooks. Location: 15 miles from Montrose, Colo., on Colo. 347. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Montrose. Colorado
National Monument Deep canyons, towering monoliths, strange rock formations, dinosaur fossils, and remains of a prehistoric Indian culture grace colorful sandstone country. Visitor center. camping, hiking, climbing, scenic overlooks. Location: The monument is 4 miles west of Grand Junction and 31/2 miles south of Fruita, Colo. on Colo. 340. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Grand Junction and Fruita, Colo. Dinosaur
National Monument Spectacular canyons cut by Green and Yampa Rivers through upfolded mountains. Quarry contains fossil remains of dinosaurs and other ancient animals. Camping, visitor centers, fishing, backcountry camping, hiking, boat trips, campfire programs, exhibits, worldfamous display of dinosaur fossils in quarry visitor center. Location: On Colorado-Utah border 20 miles north of Dinosaur, Colo. All dinosaur fossils and all improved campgrounds are in quarry area 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Vernal, Utah, 14 miles. Florissant
Fossil Beds National Monument Treasure of paleontological history preserved by volcanic ash. Among world's richest plant and insect fossils groupings. Also bird and mammal fossils. Nature trail, view of Pike's Peak golden eagles nest in western part old gold mining town of Cripple Creek to the south, self-guiding trails around fossil beds. Location: The monument is 35 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, Colo., via U.S. 24. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. Great Sand
Dunes National Monument Among nation's largest and highest dunes. Deposited over thousands of years by southwesterly winds blowing through passes of lofty Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Visitor center, exhibits, hiking on the dunes, picnicking. camping, campfire programs in summer, naturalist walks, self-guiding trail. Location: Follow U.S. 160 east from Alamosa, Colo.. to Colo. 150 and the monument. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Alamosa. Hovenweep
National Monument Six groups of towers, pueblos. and cliff dwellings built by pre-Columbian Indians. Two groups in Utah, four in Colorado. Camping, hiking, Indian ruins. Location: 45 miles from Cortez, Colo., on Utah-Colorado border. Dirt roads sometimes impassable in bad weather; check locally. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Blanding and Bluff in Utah; in Cortez in Colorado. Weir Farm
National Historic Site Summer home and workplace of American Impressionist painter J. Alden Weir (1852-1919), this has been an arts center for more than 100 years. Location: Southwestern Connecticut. From U.S. 7 between Norwalk and Danbury, take Conn. 102 to Old Branchville Road to Nod Hill Road. Frederick
Douglass National Historic Site Cedar Hill, restored home of Frederick Douglass, outstanding 19th-century American black. Remarkable orator and writer, noted abolitionist and antislavery editor. Visitor center, exhibits, audiovisual program, restored home and furnishings, guided home tours. Location: Washington, D.C., 14th and W Streets, S.E. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in D.C. area. Mary McLeod
Bethune Council House National Historic Site Headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, this site commemorates Bethune's leadership in the black women's rights movement from 1943 to 1949. Theodore
Roosevelt Island 88-acre wilderness preserve memorializes President Theodore Roosevelt's contributions to conservation. Tours, interpretive programs, formal memorial with statue, self-guiding trails, aquatic life, bird and animal refuge. Location: In Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Reach parking area from northbound lanes of George Washington Memorial Parkway on Potomac's Virginia side. Footbridge connects island to Virginia shore. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Washington. D.C. and northern Virginia. Big Cypress
National Preserve Characterized by stands of cypress trees, wetgrass prairies, marshes, estuarine mangroves, and threatened species such as the Florida panther, this preserve protects critical watershed area for the threatened ecosystems of south Florida. Location: South Florida, just north of Everglades National Park. Off U.S. 41, 60 miles from either Naples or Miami. Biscayne
National Park On Florida's southern Atlantic coast, park embraces 175,000 acres, mostly water and living coral reefs. Contains well-sheltered section of Biscayne Bay, about 45 low islands, called "keys," and about 20 miles of mainland mangrove shoreline. Available by private boat or concessioner-operated tour boat: swimming, snorkeling, fishing, camping, picnicking, and hiking on nature trails. (Picnicking, fishing, interpretive activities on mainland.) Location: Park headquarters at Convoy Point, 9 miles east of Homestead, on S.W. 328 Street. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Homestead. DeSoto
National Memorial Commemorates 16th-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Led first extensive exploration by Europeans of present southern United States (1539-1542). Visitor center, exhibits, audiovisual program, nature trail, living history program (December-April). Lowest visitation in summer. Location: On Tampa Bay 5 miles west of Bradenton: 40 miles south of Tampa, off State Route 64. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Bradenton. Dry Tortugas
National Park These seven coral reefs are noted for marine life and several species of nesting birds. Fort Jefferson, begun in 1846 to help control the Florida Straits, served as a Civil War military prision and held four of the Lincoln Conspirators. Location: Gulf of Mexico, 68 mile west of Key West. The islands can be reached by boat pr seaplane from the Key West area. Fort Caroline
National Memorial Overlooks site of French Huguenot Colony of 1564-65, second French attempt at settlement within present United States. Here. French and Spaniards began two centuries of European colonial rivalry in North America. Scale replica of fort, museum, self-guiding trail. Location: East of downtown Jacksonville, via Fla. 10. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Jacksonville. Fort Jefferson National Monument Largest of a ring of masonry coastal defense forts built in 19th century. Stands on an island in the Gulf of Mexico's Dry Tortugas group, named to warn mariners of no fresh water. During and after Civil War, fort used as federal military prison. Bird refuge, coral formations, marine life, underwater nature trail, camping, fishing. picnicking, self-guiding tour of fort. Location: 68 miles west of Key West. Accessible only by boat or air taxi from Key West area. Accommodations: No housing, water, meals, or supplies. Timucuan
Ecological and Historic Preserve Named for the Indians who lived here for more than 3,000 years, the preserve encompasses Atlantic coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and the estuaries of the St. Johns and Nassau rivers. Besides traces of Indian life, the site preserves the remains of European colonial ventures as well as 18th- and 19th-century American settlements. Location: Northeast Florida. From Jacksonville, take Fla. 105 east. Andersonville
National Historic Site Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. Commemorates sacrifices borne by American prisoners, not only in the Civil War. but also in all wars. Includes Andersonville National Cemetery. Information station, POW exhibit building. self-guiding tour of prison site. picnicking, summer programs include interpretive talks, walks, and torchlight tours. Location: 9 miles northeast of Americus. Accommodations: Meals available in Andersonville: lodging in Americus and Montezuma. Cumberland
Island National Seashore Unspoiled beaches and dunes, maritime forests, salt marshes, freshwater lakes, and the remains of centuries of human habitation characterize the largest of Georgia's Atlantic barrier islands. Location: Main visitor center is of Ga. 40 in St. Marys. The island can be reached by boat or ferry. Fort
Frederica National Monument Built by Gen. James E. Oglethorpe during Anglo-Spanish struggle for present southeastern United States. Visitor center, museum exhibits, interpretive and audiovisual programs, self-guiding tour of townsite and fort. Location: On St. Simons Island, 12 miles from Brunswick, Ga. Can be reached via Brunswick-St. Simons toll causeway. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Brunswick and on St. Simons Island. No picnic facilities at monument: picnic areas on St. Simons Island in Brunswick and Jekyll Island State Park. Fort Pulaski
National Monument Early 19th-century fort, whose bombardment by federal rifled cannon in 1862 first demonstrated the ineffectiveness of old-style masonry fortifications. Visitor center, museum exhibits, interpretive programs and displays, self-guiding tour, hiking, picnicking, fishing. Boat ramp and private campground nearby. Location: 13 miles east of Savannah, Ga., off U.S. 80. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Savannah area. Jimmy Carter
National Historic Site Jimmy Carter's boyhood home, school, church, and current residence are preserved, along with much of the small town and rural landscape that has provided the setting for the President's life and early political career. Location: Southwest Georgia. From Americus, take U.S. 280 west to plains. Ocmulgee
National Monument 10,000 years of American Indian heritage preserved here include platform mounds and ceremonial earthlodge abandoned about 1100 A.D. These Indians were an outpost of the Mississippian culture. Visitor center with archeological exhibits, guided tours, self-guiding trail. Summer program includes Indian handicraft demonstrations. Location: On east edge of Macon, Ga., off Interstate 16. Accommodations: Meals, lodging, and campgrounds in Macon. War in the
Pacific National Historical Park Interprets events in the Pacific theater of World War II. Includes major historic sites associated with 1944 battle for Guam. Exemplifies island-hopping military campaign against the Japanese. Stell Newman Visitor Center, small museum, major invasion beaches. Location: Agana Harbor area. Accommodations: Resort hotels within 5 miles. Tamuning Bay area. Kalaupapa
National Historical Park The isolated Moloka'i Island Hansen's Disease (leprosy) settlement was founded here in 1866 and operated until 1969. The park also includes areas relating to early Hawaiian life. Location: North shore of Moloka'i Island. Park is reached by charter flights, or by a steep trail from the cliff. Visitor require State of Hawaii permits. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park Many aspects of early Hawaiian life are preserved here at the site of an important early native settlement, including houses, ceremonial structures, ancient trails, burial grounds, agricultural fields, and fishponds. Location: From Keahole Airport in Kona, take Hawaii 19 south for 6 miles. Puukohola
Heiau National Historic Site A defense fortification and place of worship, during Kamehameha's rise to power in the early 1790's. Location: From Kawaihea, take Hawaii 270 south 1 mile. City of Rocks
National Reserve Granite spires and sculptured rock formations up to hundreds of feet high dominate this landscape. Remnants of the California Trail are still visible. Location: Southern Idaho. From Almo, take country raod south for 2 miles. Craters of
the Moon National Monument Fissure eruptions, volcanic cones, craters, lava flows, caves, and other volcanic phenomena. Douglas-fir, limber pine, and sagebrush-grassland communities. Visitor center, picnicking, self-guiding trails, nature trail, naturalist activities. Museum depicts volcanic formations, plants, animals, and history of the park. Location: The monument is 18 miles southwest of Arco, on U.S. 20, 26, and 93. Accommodations: Meals and lodging available in Arco. Hagerman
Fossil Beds National Monument Fossils embedded in sediment have been exposed on the banks on the Snake River by the carving action of flowing water. Location: Southern Idaho. Visitor center is in downtown Hagerman at 221 N.State St. (U.S.30). Nez Perce
National Historical Park Comprises 24 historic sites spread over North Central Idaho. 20 are managed cooperatively with federal, tribal, state, and private agencies. Some sites relate to westward expansion, settlement, and the 1877 War. Others relate to Nez Perce religion and legends. Scenic views, natural formations, historic buildings, visitor center/museum with exhibits and movie, self-guiding facilities, and picnicking. Location: Park headquarters at Spalding, 11 miles east of Lewiston, on U.S. 95. Personal services at Kamiah Site in summer only. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Lewiston and other communities. George Rogers
Clark National Historical Park Classic memorial stands on site of Fort Sackville, which frontier army under Clark captured from British in 1779. This won Old Northwest for the United States. Marble rotunda contains 7 large murals. Visitor center, movie version of Clark's campaign, landscaped grounds, view of the natural Wabash River, statues and markers. No camping or picnicking in the park, but facilities are available nearby. Location: Vincennes, at junction of U.S. Highways 50 and 41, southwestern Indiana. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Vincennes. Lincoln
Boyhood National Memorial Abraham Lincoln lived on this southern Indiana farm from age 7 to 21. His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, is buired here. LocationFrom I-64, take U.S. 231 south for 6 miles, then take Ind. 162 east for 2 miles. Effigy Mounds
National Monument Outstanding examples of Indian burial mounds in shapes of birds and other creatures. Visitor center, museum exhibits, audiovisual presentation, self-guiding trail, scenic views along 300-foot high bluff, trailside exhibits, hiking, guided group tours. State campgrounds and picnic areas nearby. Location: 4 miles north of McGregor and Marquette, Iowa, on Highway 76. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in McGregor. Herbert
Hoover National Historic Site Herbert Hoover's birthplace cottage, the Friends Meetinghouse and other structures from his boyhood neighborhood (1874-85), the gravesites of Prasident Hoover, and Mrs. Hoover, and the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are within the park. Location: From I-80, take Exit 254; follow signs to park entrance. Fort Larned
National Historic Site Fort protected traffic on Santa Fe Trail from 1859 to 1878. Key military post in Indian War of 1868-69. Served as Indian agency in 1860s. Nine historic military buildings: 5 have exhibits and furnished rooms open to public. Visitor center, audiovisual program, exhibits, history/nature trail, picnic area. Guided tours daily and living history programs on weekends in summer. Location: 7 miles west of Larned, Kans., on U.S. 156. Accommodations: Meals, lodging, and campgrounds in Larned and Great Bend, Kans. Fort Scott
National Historic Site Army Post (1842-1853) guarded the permanent Indian frontier. Dispatched troops on expeditions to explore the West, protect Santa Fe Trail traffic, and fight in Mexican War. Served as Union supply base during Civil War (1861-1865). Twenty-one historic military buildings, 13 furnished and open to public. Visitor center, audiovisual program and exhibits, guided tours, living history demonstrations, interpretive programs and special events as scheduled. Small picnic area on site and private campgrounds nearby. Location: 90 miles south of Kansas City, on north edge of town of Fort Scott. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Fort Scott. Abraham
Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site Early Kentucky cabin symbolizes that in which Lincoln was born. Enclosed in granite and marble building on birthplace site. Visitor center, audiovisual program, exhibits, memorial building, picnic area, camping facilities nearby. Location: 3 miles south of Hodgenville, Ky., on U.S. 31E-Ky. 61. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Hodgenville. Big South
Fork National River and Recreation Area A scenic portion of the Cumberland Plateau on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. See listing under Tennessee. Cumberland
Gap National Historical Park Mountain pass of the Wilderness Road, explored by Daniel Boone. Main artery of the great trans-Allegheny migration for settlement of the Old West. Important military objective in Civil War. Visitor center, museum, scenic overlooks, Wilderness Road. self-guiding trails. campground, picnic area. hiking trails, privately-operated Cudjo Cave, restored Hensley settlement, peak where Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia meet. Location: Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Visitor center on U.S. 25E, one mile southeast of Middlesboro. K y. Accommodations Meals and lodging in Middlesboro and Cumberland Gap, Ky. Antietam
National Battlefield Scene of bloodiest single-day fight in the battle that ended Gen. Robert E. Lee's first invasion of North in 1862. Visitor center, exhibits, orientation movie, slide program, driving tour of battlefield, National Cemetery, fishing in Antietam Creek. Location: From Sharpsburg, Md., northeast along Md. 34 and Md. 65. Accommodations Meals and lodging in Hagerstown, 14 miles north. Clara Barton
National Historic Site Built in 1891, this 38-room home of American Red Cross founder was organization's headquarters for 7 years. A living history area. Restored home and furnishings, guided home tours, reservations can be made. Location: Glen Echo, Md., 5801 Oxford Road, adjacent to Glen Echo Park. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Greater Washington, D.C. area. Glen Echo, Md. is 8 miles from downtown Washington. Fort
Washington Park On Maryland side of Potomac River, Fort Washington exemplifies early 19th-century coastal defense. Occupies site of earliest fortification erected for defense of National Capital. Altered only slightly since 1824. Fort, park with picnic sites, museum, demonstration of the heavy artillery uniform of the 1860s, with a firing of muskets, artillery demonstrations. Location: Fort Washington Road, Oxon Hill, Md., suburb of Washington, D.C. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Washington area. Hampton
National Historic Site Includes one of the largest and most ornate mansions of post-Revolutionary period (1790), with complex of historic outbuildings, English formal gardens, and specimen trees. Guided house tours, summer grounds and garden tours, exhibits, seasonal programs. Location: Take Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway) to exit 27 North, and follow directional signs. Accommodations: Tearoom on site serves luncheon. Other meals and lodging nearby in Towson. Monocacy
National Battlefield Here on July 9, 1864, confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early defeated Federal forces commanded by Brig. Gen.Lew Wallace. The battle delayed Early, allowing Union troops to marshal a succesful defense of Washington, D.C. Location:Washington, D.C. area. From I-95/495, take I-270, then take exit 26 at Urbana. Follow Rte. 80 east to a stop sign. Turn left onto Rte. 355 north. Proceed 3.7 to the Battlefield on right. Piscataway
Park Preserves the tranquil view of the Potomac River's Maryland shore, as seen from Mount Vernon. National Colonial Farm, an agricultural-historical project of Accokeek Foundation, provides an exhibit and demonstration of agricultural methods, crops, and livestock of a modest tidewater farm of the mid-18th century. Farm animals, woodland foot trail, picnic facilities in Saylot Memorial Grove, fishing pier, visitor center. Location: Park is accessible from the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) exit 3-A. Go south on Indian Head Highway (Route 210) for 10 miles to Bryan Point Road, then west 4 miles to Potomac River. Accommodations: Meals and lodging available throughout the Prince George's County, Maryland, suburbs of Washington. Thomas Stone
National Historic Site Habre-de-Venture, a Georgian mansion built in 1771 near Port Tobacco, was the home of Thomas Stone (1743-87). A signer of the Declaration of Independence, Stone was a delegate to the Continental Congresses in the 1770's and 1780's. Location: Southeastern Maryland. From U.S.301 at La Plata, take Md. 6 west for 2 miles to Rose Hill Road. Adams
National Historical Site The Old House, built in 1731, was purchased by John and Abigail Adams in 1787. Beautiful garden and magnificent library. Tours of The Old House daily in season; gardens and grounds are self-guiding walks. Park open April 19 to November 10. Presidential birthplaces a few miles away also have daily tours. Location: Adams Street and Newport Avenue, just off Quincy Center. Accommodations Meals and lodging in the Quincy and Greater Boston Areas. Frederick Law
OlmstedNational Historic Site "The Father of Landscape Architecture in America" spent some of his busiest years here at Fairsted, which he purchased in 1883. Home and studio still hold thousands of drawings, maps, models, and photographs pertaining to Olmsted's work. House tours show Olmsted's work areas and various projects. Park open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. Location: Just off Route 9 at Warren and Dudley Streets in Brookline, 4 miles from downtown Boston. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Greater Boston Area. John
Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site Birthplace and early boyhood home (1917-20) of the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy home; walking tour of neighborhood: audio and self-guiding home tours. Location: 83 Beals Street, Brookline, Mass.Accommodations Meals and lodging in Greater Boston Area. Longfellow
National Historic Site Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home at Cambridge, 1837-82. Also Gen. George Washington's headquarters during the siege of Boston, 1775-76. Restored home and gardens. Location 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Accommodations Meals and lodging in Cambridge and Greater Boston Area. Salem
Maritime National Historic Site Young America's maritime history comes alive in this beautiful harborside setting. The Custom House, Derby House, and West India Goods Store re-create the bustling, late-1700s Derby Wharf scene. Historic Salem abounds with tours and sights. House of Seven Gables, The Witch Museum, and Pickering Wharf Complex. Derby and Custom House tours. Location: Salem Center, off Route 1A, adjacent to Pickering Wharf. Accommodations: Greater Boston's North Shore area--coastal towns of Salem, Beverly, and Marblehead. Saugus Iron
Works National Historic Site Reconstructed 17th-century iron works recreate the historic process of water wheels, bellows, and forge hammer. Ironmaster's house, reconstructed furnace, forge, rolling and slitting mill, museum. Location: Just east of U.S. 1, about 10 miles north of Boston, in Saugus, Mass. Accommodations: Meals and lodging in Greater Boston Area. Springfield
Armory National Historic Site Includes Commandant's Quarters and Master Armorer's Home. Main Arsenal holds one of the world's largest collections of small arms. Area includes historic Armory. Square and Federal Square. Tours of Main Arsenal and houses. Walking, self-guiding tours of the Arsenal and Federal Square area. Location: Entrance to park off Federal Street; accessible from Armory Street via Interstate 291 or State Street via Interstate 91. Accommodations: Greater Springfield Area. Lesser Known Areas - Part 2 Last Updated:Monday, 27-Mar-00 15:30:43
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