The Places That Define Us

Of the more than 430 sites in the National Park System, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum calls just 63 of them America’s “crown jewels.” And the rest? A new budget proposal from the White House would force them to be sold, transferred or closed altogether.

Those park sites — recreation areas, historic sites, monuments and more — protect the threads of our natural, historical and cultural heritage that together weave the fabric of America. These places let millions of Americans experience national parks and see our nation at its best.

The value of parks isn’t found in fame and it isn’t measured in acres. Every park is one of our nation’s “crown jewels” because every park is a place where people can connect with America’s rich heritage.

All the parks at risk under this plan belong to all Americans and it will take all of us working together to keep them protected.

Imagine America Without… Buffalo National River

In the heart of the Ozark Mountains, the Buffalo National River flows wild and free. Stretching 135 miles through forested hills and towering bluffs, it is one of the last undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. This landscape is as rugged as it is peaceful. It is a place where visitors paddle through rapids, camp beneath the stars, spot bald eagles overhead, and watch turtles sunbathe on river rocks. Designated in 1972, it was the first river in the United States to receive national protection. Today, it remains a rare example of what a truly untamed river can be.

Canoes on the Buffalo

Canoes on the bank of Buffalo National River.

Photo © Craig Hanson/Dreamstime.

The Buffalo is more than a place to float. It is a sanctuary for wildlife, a source of clean water, and a symbol of what local communities can achieve when they come together to protect what they love. People across Arkansas worked to keep this river free-flowing, and the result is a natural treasure that continues to inspire awe. Along its banks, visitors hike, fish, swim, and ride horseback. Families return year after year, drawn by the sense of freedom the river offers.

It is also an engine for the local economy. In a single year, the Buffalo National River welcomes more than a million visitors and generates tens of millions of dollars in tourism spending. Outfitters, campgrounds, cabins, and restaurants all rely on the steady rhythm of river season. Local jobs and small businesses depend on the health and accessibility of this river. Protecting it protects more than scenery. It protects livelihoods.

This is not just a beloved park. It is a place that defines a region. It reminds us what it means to care for the land and for one another. We cannot afford to take it for granted. The Buffalo National River is a living legacy, and it must remain free, protected, and wild for generations to come.

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Imagine America without… the shot heard round the world

Standing beside the Old North Bridge on the banks of the Concord River in Massachusetts is like traveling back in time to the Big Bang that formed the nation. It was on this site that Colonial militias first faced down British soldiers 250 years ago, and the “shot heard round the world” kicked off the conflict that led to the establishment of a new nation conceived in liberty: the United States of America.

Minute Man NHP

Revolutionary War re-enactors at Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts.

National Park Service photo.

Those militias — comprised of volunteers known as minutemen for their rapid response to threats — were prepared for the conflict because of the midnight ride of Paul Revere and other patriots, who rode on horseback through the night to sound the alarm and warn the colonists of the British army’s march from Boston to Lexington and Concord. The battle there was the start of the revolution and the rest, as they say, is history.

That history is now at risk, and it’s time to sound a new alarm ― and to respond to new threats.

Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts protects, preserves and interprets the places and stories from this seminal event in American lore. But if the administration is allowed to transfer parks to states or private entities, Minute Man and many other hallowed places could find themselves out in the cold — deauthorized, privatized or shuttered altogether. And this is on top of the current threat to the park posed by the expansion of Hanscom Airfield for luxury jets.

At a time when the country needs the same collective spirit and determination shown by the Minute Men in 1775, we need this park more than ever.