Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana
After spending the summer fleeing U.S. Army troops, Chief Joseph's band of Nez Perce Indians set up camp in Montana's Big Hole Valley, unaware that their pursuer, General Otis Howard, had telegraphed nearby troops with instructions to intercept them. On August 9, 1877, the quiet dawn was pierced by the sound of U.S. Army gunfire and the screams of women and children, many who died instantly in their tipis. Between 60 and 90 Nez Perce men, women, and children were killed during a 36-hour battle that followed and exacted a heavy toll on both sides.
Today the battlefield is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park, which consists of 38 sites that preserve the culture and the history of Nez Perce in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The Nez Perce consider the Big Hole National Battlefield a sacred burial ground, and many tribal members travel there to honor those who perished in the conflict.
If You Go: The Park Service also sponsors events to honor battle participants. The next event is scheduled for August 10, 2007, to mark the 130th anniversary of the battle.
NPCA's Center for State of the Parks has released an assessment of the conditions of cultural and natural resources within Big Hole National Battlefield. Read the Report >>
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Say No to Snowmobiles in Yellowstone
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 Why is Yellowstone National Park proposing to allow as many as 720 snowmobiles to enter the park each day--nearly triple the current daily average of 250? Make sense to you? We didn't think so, either. Nearly 300,000 people have vocally demonstrated their opposition to snowmobile use in Yellowstone. Sound science backs up that public outcry.
The Park Service is taking comments on snowmobiles in Yellowstone until May 31st, so get your comments in today.
Take Action >
Help Tell the Story of "America's Best Idea"
In the fall of 2009, PBS will air The National Parks, a major documentary film series produced and directed by Ken Burns and written and produced by Dayton Duncan.
Your home movies could star in the show. Burns and his team want to collect home movies of visits to national parks by families and individuals. They are looking for home movies from the 1920s through the 1980s, and are most interested in footage of families and tourists in the parks. Be a part of history and help tell the story of "America's best idea." If you have home movies you would like to share, click here for all the details>>
First Lady's Visit Brings Needed Attention to National Parks
 On April 29th, First Lady Laura Bush visited Zion National Park. Her personal passion and support for our national parks is an inspiration to all Americans who cherish our natural and cultural heritage. She has helped encourage young people to embrace learning opportunities in these living classrooms through the Junior Ranger program, and has brought needed attention to the wonders of our National Park System, and its continuing needs. MORE > >
Honoring the Fallen at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
 It took 143 years to honor the fallen, but on April 28th, 2007 the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site was dedicated. The new historic site memorializes that massacre of nearly 160 Cheyenne and Arapaho people on November 29, 1864. It is the 391st unit in the National Park System.
Former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), a Cheyenne descendant of survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre, sponsored legislation that began the process of memorializing the massacre. At the dedication, NPS Director Mary Bomar noted that "the history of this great nation is not complete without an understanding and respect for the tragedies that affect our national consciousness. We hope that when people visit this important national park site, they will learn about and remember the Northern and Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho victims of Sand Creek."
If You Go
The park officially opens to the public on Friday, June 1, 2007. Please note that the park will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m. Ranger-led history talks will be held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
Volcanoes & Rivers of Oregon & Washington
August 20-26, 2007
 Satisfy your senses with stunning vistas, delicious cuisine, local microbrews, and charming lodges--join this exclusive ParkScapes tour. Experience the quintessential Pacific Northwest while exploring evergreen-fringed cliffs that surround the brilliant blue waters of Crater Lake, drifting along the scenic Deschutes River, and seeing renewed vegetation throughout the Mount St. Helens blast zone.
View tour details or check the full 2007 ParkScapes travel schedule here > > or call the NPCA ParkScapes Travel Desk at 800-488-4080 to get more information.
Meet a National Park Hero--Jack Greene
Hundreds of you sent us your stories, thoughts, and dreams about our national parks. Thank you! Everyone had something wonderful to say, and some stood out above the crowd. Our new feature, "Faces", is a look at these park heroes, and how they're doing their part to make our national parks a better place. We hope these stories will inspire you just as they've inspired us. Jack Greene's Story
 At 8 years of age, my family traveled from Michigan to Washington via U.S. 2, the northern route across the states. We visited Glacier N.P., Mt. Rainier, and on the return trip, Yellowstone. The impressions of those formative years were life-changing. I later moved west to be surrounded by those majestic places. Since those early days, every time I see the NPS "badge," a flood of wonderful memories draws me in like a magnet. MORE > >
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