The Gateway Arch at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in Missouri is the tallest monument in America--rising up from the banks of the Mississippi River exactly 630 feet! The dramatic arch represents America's westward expansion, honors the significance of President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, and symbolically links East and West at the gateway city of St. Louis.

In addition to the stunning, stainless-steel arch, the memorial features the Museum of Westward Expansion. The museum tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition and features rare artifacts. Nearby, the Old Courthouse commemorates yet another pivotal moment in American history: the Dred Scott case. In 1846, Scott and his wife, Harriet--both slaves--sued for their freedom after having lived in states where slavery was illegal. They lost the case in 1857, which further polarized the country and set the stage for civil war.

If You Go > >The tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch is fun and rewards visitors with a wonderful view. Tickets are required for the tram ride and can sell out. Your best way to ensure a seat is to buy your tickets online before you go. In addition, plan some extra time to get through security. Metal detectors screen visitors before they enter the memorial, and at times the line can be fairly long.

View the slideshow > >

The "Gateway to the West" is hard to miss as it looms high above the ground. Millions of visitors from all over the country and world visit this architectural marvel in St. Louis, Missouri each year. On your next visit, however, the beautiful park, gardens, and ponds around the Arch could be developed with restaurants, stores, and other attractions.

In an effort spearheaded by former Senator John Danforth, some St. Louis residents want to take local control of the park. There's no question that revitalizing the area around the Arch is in order. But the Arch belongs to all Americans, and it should remain that way.

There are several opportunities to weigh in on the future of the Arch. To find out more about the proposed plans and how you can help, click here.

Comments are welcome at any time, although comments received by July 14, 2008, will be most helpful.

For information or to make your voice heard, please contact Lynn McClure, Midwest Regional Director at lmcclure@npca.org

Click here to send your comments now > >

A new NPCA report offers the first-ever, science-based evaluation of the condition of the national parks' natural and cultural resources, including the wildlife, scenic vistas, historic buildings, and cultural artifacts that people visit the parks to see. According to NPCA's report, The State of Our National Parks: A Resources Index, national parks earned lower than acceptable scores, indicating serious, yet surmountable challenges.

Learn More >>

Visitors to Sequoia National Park in California are often awed by the impressive trees, but dismayed by the pollution that clouds the park's scenic views and harms wildlife. Fortunately, the nearby town of Visalia has an innovative solution, and is encouraging visitors and residents to get on board!

Download the Latest Park Story Today > >

Over the last six months thousands of park supporters have downloaded our "Park Stories" podcasts about the hottest issues in our national parks, so we knew you were enjoying them. Now we have learned that the podcasts have been awarded for excellence.

Download these award winners today!

"Tour Yosemite with a Buffalo Soldier"
2008 Award of Excellence from the Central California Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America's annual Image Awards competition in the podcast/weblog category.

"Caretakers of Our Cultural History"
First-place/documentary in the New Mexico Associated Press Broadcasters' 2008 awards competition.

Over the years, illegal use of off-road vehicles has become a serious problem in our national parks. Such activities have disturbed wildlife, caused erosion and tire ruts, destroyed plants and other vegetation, and made conditions unsafe and less enjoyable for other park visitors. In 2005, after years of inaction by the Park Service, NPCA, in conjunction with other groups, was forced to file suit.

We are pleased to tell you that the lawsuit has been successfully resolved. In May, Bluewater Network--a coalition of Friends of the Earth, the National Parks Conservation Association, and Wildlands CPR--announced that we have reached a settlement agreement with the National Park Service.

Under the settlement, the Park Service will implement a pilot program focused on public education and deterrence at 10 national parks. To help stop illegal use of off-road vehicles, those 10 parks will conduct special public outreach, education, and enforcement activities over the next three years, by training officers and working to set fines high enough to create a deterrence.

"Due to chronic funding shortfalls, the Park Service has struggled to enforce the rules on the books to protect the treasures in many national parks, and the safety and experiences of visitors," said NPCA President Tom Kiernan. "We're pleased that the Park Service has agreed to this settlement. Coupled with Congress and the Administration's continued investment in our national parks, it will help to protect these national treasures for our children and grandchildren."

The summer issue of National Parks magazine features cross-border conservation work at Big Bend in Texas, drilling in Canada that could affect Glacier, 40 years of Wild & Scenic Rivers, and travel to Acadia. Several of the articles are included online at www.npca.org/magazine.

To see every single word and every stunning photograph, subscribe here.

November 3-10, 2008
Join NPCA in touring the largest subtropical ecosystem in North America--Everglades National Park--this November. You'll explore a mosaic of wetlands in Big Cypress National Preserve, the world's third largest coral reef in Biscayne National Park, historic Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park, and get an exclusive look at local stewardship initiatives in each of these fragile ecosystems.

For more information, contact us via phone at 800.628.7275, via email at travel@npca.org, or view full tour details online.

Start your summer off right and become a Trustees for the Parks member! The Trustees for the Parks are a group of special members who believe strongly in preserving our national parks for our children and grandchildren. Annual commitments of $1,000 or more entitle members to special events, mailings, and attention from NPCA staff. Consider joining the Trustees for the Parks today!

To show our appreciation for your dedication to NPCA, we will send you a beautiful coffee table book titled Our National Parks by renowned photographer David Muench. Visit us online to join, or for more information about the program contact Michele Gehrig, Trustees for the Parks Manager at mgehrig@npca.org or at 1-800-628-7275, ext. 290.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Featured Park: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
• NPCA Campaign: Keep Parks Safe
• Explore the Parks: New Parks Pages
• NPCA Campaign: Gateway Arch
• Park Stories: New Podcast: A Clean Commute
• Park Victories
• National Parks Magazine
• Travel with NPCA
• You're Invited
• Thoughts for All Time

We couldn't be more proud of you. Over the course of the past two months, nearly 23,000 of you sent your letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opposing potential new regulations that would allow loaded weapons in national parks. Working with our allies, we've generated nearly 40,000 comments.

Even though the comment period has ended, there is still work to be done. Be sure to stay tuned with us as we continue the fight to keep loaded guns out of our national parks.

Planning your summer vacation? Want to hear what other visitors think of the parks you're visiting?

Check out our brand-new "Explore the Parks" web feature! We've profiled all 391 of our nation's natural and historic parks for the key information you need before visiting. You can also read what other visitors had to say about their park experiences, and share your own comments and ratings.

Can't wait to go camping, hiking, or touring? Be sure to take a look through the more than 300 park photos we've already posted, and stay tuned for more. This summer, NPCA's Park Pages are your go-to place for everything you wanted to know about the national parks.

NPCA's Partners for the Parks are committed members who express their support for our national parks through an automatic monthly gift. It is a simple, convenient, and manageable way to protect and enhance our national parks. Together, we make a difference!

Join Partners for the Parks today >>

Is it time to re-order your checks? Did you know that you can purchase scenic checks with national park images on them from Message!Products?

Along with NPCA's logo, this check series includes beautiful color images of Acadia, Yellowstone, Arches, Yosemite, Mount Rushmore, Glacier, and more! Also available for purchase are return address labels, message cards, and checkbook covers made of cotton or hemp (a 'green' material).

The greatest part is that a portion of your purchase will come back directly to NPCA, meaning that you are helping to protect our national parks simply by purchasing these products!

View these items online today, and show your support of NPCA.

Pittsburgh, PA: 2008 International Urban Parks Conference--September 21-23, 2008
Join parks professionals and thought leaders to learn how parks are shaping the future of the world's cities at this NPCA-sponsored event.
Learn More >> 

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country  > >

Feedback? Story ideas? Email us at npca@npca.org.

Are you having trouble making a donation online? Call us at 1.800.628.7275 Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.

From All the Staff at NPCA,
Thank you for your time and dedication in helping to enhance and protect our national parks for present and future generations.
NPCA's park-protection work is made possible by the generous support of people like you. Membership is just $25, and includes a subscription to our award-winning National Parks magazine, recently recognized for excellence in coverage of environmental tourism by the Society of American Travel Writers. Join Us Today! Park Lines is a publication of the National Parks Conservation Association. E-mail us at TakeAction@npca.org, write to us at 1300 19th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, or call us at 800.NAT.PARK (800.628.7275).

To learn more, visit us at www.npca.org

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."

--Sir John Lubbock