For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People

FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE

Isabelle Florence Story, Editor in Chief, National Park Service

In the seven years that have elapsed since the issuance of the last Drivers' Manual, national parks and their place in our national economy have been tried in the crucible of all-out war. Public use during the war years, under adverse conditions of transportation, accommodations, and lack of leisure-time and the interest of our citizenry generally in their preservation intact, have fully demonstrated their value as national assets.

Yet we in national park work, both government and concessioner employees, can well benefit from a refresher course in national park concepts, administration, protection, and use, if we are to furnish information accurately and satisfactorily.

Glacier National Park was established in 1910, some half dozen years before the creation of the National Park Service. As the number of national parks and monuments increased and management problems multiplied, it became apparent that a separate parks bureau was needed in the Department of the Interior. As a result the Service was created by act of Congress approved August 25, 1916.

The broad pattern under which all of us operate -- Park Service and concessioner alike -- was laid down in that act, which directed the new bureau to "... promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as to conform to the fundamental purpose of said parks, monuments and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations....."

The seemingly contradictory mandates of preservation and use are often the basis for arguments. Extreme conservationists, for example, sincerely believe that the natural features of wilderness parks should be completely preserved, even to the point of prohibiting all roads and other developments for human use. To that argument the Service points to the injunction in the organic act to provide for the enjoyment of the people. On the other hand, the extremely recreation-minded demand that more roads be built; that artificial lakes and other recreational facilities be installed; that organized sports attracting large spectator crowds be permitted. To them the Service answers: "Under the mandate of Congress we must preserve the parks in as nearly as possible their natural condition, that future generations may enjoy them."

So it is essential that a nice balance be maintained in all our development work, to the end that the parks remain unimpaired even as the comfort and well-being of visitors are safeguarded.

Construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Highway in Glacier Park precipitated an argument between the two schools of thought. Glacier is undoubtedly the trail park par excellence. For years its wilderness could be visited only afoot or on horse. Roads led up its east and west boundaries, penetrating short distances into the park; but it could be crossed only by trail. As a result, many visitors, deterred by lack of physical strength, time limitations, or other causes from making the trail crossing, never experienced the thrill of seeing the wilderness interior.

No one who knows Glacier National Park well would tolerate the thought of roads crisscrossing its colorful mountain slopes, beautiful valleys, and mountain passes. Yet surely those unable or unwilling to ride across the mountains are entitled to enjoy a bit of the Glacier wilderness. Acting on this principle, and in the face of opposition from those who felt that seeing the park should be a reward for those who used the trails, the Going-to-the-Sun Highway was constructed across the park.

But no other roads, in the opinion of National Park Service officials, ever should cross Glacier National Park or penetrate its wilderness. It must remain essentially a trail park.

As can well be understood by those who know Glacier, the national parks are spacious land areas essentially in their primeval condition, distinguished by scenic beauty or natural wonders so outstandingly superior in quality to average examples of their types to be of national importance and interest.

Glacier is one of 28 national parks. In addition, the National Park System includes 4 national historical parks, 85 national monuments, 11 national military parks, 1 national battlefield park, 1 national memorial park, 7 national battlefield sites, 11 national historic sites, 9 national memorials, 10 national cemeteries, 3 national parkways, and the National Capital Parks System of our National Capital. In addition, the Service administers two national historical park projects and five recreational areas. The latter include huge reservoirs, such as Lake Mead, created through the construction of great dams for power and irrigation purposes. The Federal agency constructing the dams maintains control over the resultant reservoirs, the National Park Service handling the recreational developments under cooperative agreements.

National Monuments usually are created by presidential proclamation, under broad authority of the "Antiquities Act," passed by Congress in 1906. It authorizes the President "...in his discretion to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest ..... to be national monuments..." National monuments also may be established by direct act of Congress. In the reorganization act of 1933, all national park and monument activities were placed under the supervision of the National Park Service, including national monuments administered by the War and Agriculture Departments and various park areas of military or historic interest.

A further step was taken under the Historic Sites Act of 1935, which "declared that it is a national policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings and objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States." Under this act the Secretary of the Interior may, with the approval of the President, acquire lands and designate them as national historic sites; and in addition may enter into cooperative agreements with State or other local governments or with historic and patriotic organizations for the protection of historic or archeological buildings and sites. There are seven non-Federally-owned national historic sites.

Among the questions that we frequently are asked is: "What national park was the first established?" The answer is -- the Yellowstone, created by act of Congress approved March 1, 1872. The questioner may continue: "What about Hot Springs?" Hot Springs became a national park less than thirty years ago. In 1832, however, the hot springs were reserved by the United States so that they might be available for the use of all, since Indians and whites alike believed they had curative powers. The area was administered by the Department of the Interior as Hot Springs Reservation. When the National Park Service was established that agency took over its management, with the national parks and monuments. In 1921, with certain recreational resources developed, Congress gave the area national park status. Again, it may be suggested that Yosemite was the first national park. The basis for this idea derives from the fact that Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, known for their scenic beauty in the East and even in Europe as early as the 1850s, were reserved by Congress in 1864 for park purposes. The act reserving the lands, however, expressly provided for their administration by the State of California -- so that they constituted the first State Park. Later these two areas were ceded back to the Federal Government, to become part of Yosemite National Park, which had been established in 1890.

Because of their inherent qualities of magnificent scenic beauty, scientific interest, or historic or prehistoric significance, the areas of the National Park System deserve and receive a special type of administration. Complete protection is mandatory under the law already quoted, and this inevitably limits the types of recreational use. In the wilderness areas hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and motoring (with skiing and other winter sports in season) are the main amusements. The hiking may be under the leadership of park naturalists or historians. Much of the enjoyment of a visit to a national park or national monument is derived from an understanding of the significance of the area -- of the forces of nature that produced the colorful scenery of Glacier National Park or the events that the historic areas commemorate. Museums, guide service, lectures, self-guiding trails, and other devices aid visitors in their quest for understanding and often lead them to new fields of study at home. Sympathetic understanding and handling of visitor problems may result in attracting another supporter to the banner of conservation.