PBS - The National Parks: America's Best Idea (HD) (2009) Part 1 “The Scripture of Nature” (1851–1890)

THE NATIONAL PARKS, a film by Ken Burns, is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved for everyone. The series traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years, chronicling the addition of new parks through the stories of the people who helped create them.

Part 1: “The Scripture of Nature” (1851–1890)

Shows the beauty of Yosemite Valley and the geyser wonderland of Yellowstone. Additionally, it offers a lengthy discussion of how Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks were created and shows how John Muir became their eloquent defender.

The National Parks (Wikipedia).

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