Three New Monuments Added to National Park System
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Vol. 20 • No. 3 • Arrowhead 1 The Newsletter of the Employees & Alumni Association of the National Park Service Summer 2013 • Vol. 20 • No. 3 Arrowhead Published by Eastern National FROM THE DIRECTOR Three New Monuments Added his year has posed some to National Park System Tserious challenges for us, but I remain hopeful and ex - n March 25, 2013, President Obama and supported 252,000 jobs nationwide cluding Tubman, between 1810 and the cited about the fu - Osigned proclamations establishing five in 2011. More than one third of that total 1830s. Stewart’s Canal is part of the ture—primarily new national monuments, using his author - spending, or $13 billion, went directly Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge because of what I ity under the Antiquities Act. The monu - into communities within 60 miles of a and, although part of the new national know of the cre - ments, located in Delaware, Maryland, New park, and the national parks return more monument, will continue to be managed ativity and gumption of National Park Mexico, Ohio and Washington, help tell the than $10 for every $1 the American tax - by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Service people. Every year, Founders story of significant people and extraordinary payer invests in the NPS. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Day is an important milestone as are events in American history, as well as protect National Monument also includes the all the events and accomplishments The monuments are: unique natural resources for the benefit of homesite of Jacob Jackson, a free black that move us closer to achieving the all Americans. The National Park Service Harriet Tubman Underground goals of A Call to Action . We are work - man who used coded letters to help will manage three of the sites, and the Railroad National Monument in ing for the future and looking forward Tubman communicate with family and Bureau of Land Management will manage Maryland. This monument, the 399th to our second century of stewardship. others. The monument will also partner the other two. unit of the National Park System, com - with the State of Maryland’s Harriet Tapping the educational power of “These sites honor the pioneering he - memorates the life of the most famous Tubman Underground Railroad State parks and programs has long been roes, spectacular landscapes and rich his - conductor on the Underground Railroad Park Visitor Center when it opens in one of my priorities. But when it tory that have shaped our extraordinary who was responsible for helping enslaved comes to NPS educational materials 2015. The monument will be managed country,” said President Obama. “By people escape from bondage to freedom. by the NPS, and more information is designed for preschool children and designating these national monuments The new national park, located on their teachers, resources are thin. available at www.nps.gov/hatu. today, we will ensure they will continue Maryland’s Eastern Shore, includes large That’s why we asked for help from First State National Monument in to inspire and be enjoyed by generations sections of landscapes that are significant Elmo and Murray, Muppets from Delaware. This monument, the 400th na - to Tubman’s early life in Dorchester Sesame Street . of Americans to come.” tional park site and the first unit of the The National Park Service’s annual County and evocative of her life as a slave A series of six videos— Sesame National Park System in Delaware, will peer-reviewed report found that the 279 and conductor of the Underground Rail - tell the story of the early Dutch, Swedish, Street Explores National Parks —de - million visitors to our national parks gen - road. These include Stewart’s Canal, dug veloped by the NPS, in collaboration erated $30.1 billion in economic activity by hand by free and enslaved people, in - continued on page 3 with Sesame Workshop and the National Park Foundation, features the Muppets and rangers Amala Posey-Hyman from Grand Canyon National Park and Shalini Gopie from Gateway National Recreation Area. National Park of American Samoa In each one, the Muppets and rangers highlight scientific inquiry skills that are relevant not only to the Celebrates New Visitor Center national parks, but also to local parks and even backyards. The idea is to introduce children from the ages of n April 24, 2013, the National Park three to five to nature and science Oof American Samoa celebrated the and to help shape their attitudes grand opening of its new visitor center. about those subjects at an early The new visitor center replaces the previ - age. The videos are accompanied ous one that was destroyed by the 2009 by practical activities, all available on the parks’ websites, to help tsunami and culminates the national park’s parents and educators augment the recovery efforts. In attendance were the learning experience. American Samoa Governor, Lolo Moliga, and First Lady, Cynthia Moliga; local gov - As we approach our centennial, linking public lands to public health is ernment directors and representatives; and increasingly important. A Call to Action park partners who were instrumental in the item #8, Eat Well and Prosper , helps development of the visitor center exhibits. us achieve this goal. In early June, The exhibits were designed and writ - Secretary Jewell and I joined execu - ten in Samoan and English for the enjoy - tives of major concessioners to an - ment of local residents and visitors from nounce that visitors will have more around the world. They showcase the options to purchase healthy food at significance of the islands’ unique tropi - national parks. As part of the NPS cal rainforests, coral reefs, fruit bats and Healthy Parks, Healthy People proj - the Samoan culture. NPS ect, we have started the Healthy & “We hope that the visitor center ex - Sustainable Food Program, which THE RIBBON IS CUT for the new visitor center at National Park of American Samoa on provides new standards for healthy hibits accurately reflect American Samoa’s April 24, 2013. Pictured from left to right: Supt. Jim Bacon, Chief of Interpretation and food at more than 250 concession op - continued on page 11 Education Michael Larson, First Lady of American Samoa Cynthia Moliga and Governor erations. We will include the standards of American Samoa Lolo Moliga. in all new concessions contracts and apply them on a voluntary basis to ex - isting contracts. We’ve developed this initiative with Top 10 Visited NPS Sites Revealed the White House, the CDC, USDA and organizations like The American Heart ore than 282 million people visited recreation and to learn about American his - National Monument in 2012 help us to Association, the National Park Hospi - MAmerica’s national parks in 2012, tory by strolling through a battlefield. continue to explore how our nation of many tality Association and concessioners. an increase of more than three million They come to listen to a park ranger at faces and many voices has developed.” These efforts, and your work every over 2011. It was the sixth highest Independence National Historical Park and The challenges left in the wake of Hurri - day, bring us closer to a second- annual visitation in the history of the marvel at the Continental Congress. And cane Sandy will become part of American century National Park Service, and I National Park Service, despite nearly two people come to national parks for old-fash - history, too. The storm slammed into 70 na - appreciate your commitment to moving million fewer visitors as a result of park ioned enjoyment of the great outdoors.” tional park sites from North Carolina to us forward no matter what comes our closures caused by Hurricane Sandy. National parks capture the story of the Maine. Some parks closed briefly, others for way. Above all, be safe this summer. “The National Park Service strives to U.S., from its earliest days to the modern weeks while the Statue of Liberty and Ellis represent all that America has to offer,” era. Director Jarvis said, “The dedication Island in New York remain closed for repairs. —Jonathan B. Jarvis said NPS Director Jon Jarvis. “People come of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial “The Statue of Liberty will reopen by to national parks for many reasons—for and the opening of the César E. Chávez continued on page 8 2 Arrowhead • Vol. 20 • No. 3 Focus on the Parks • Natchez Trace Parkway added a new enjoyed a night of fun and music. Students bird species to its list on Jan. 19 when three from the Kansas Ballet Academy and Ac - adult whooping cranes, representing an cent Dance Academy demonstrated dances endangered species that has never before such as the stroll, the twist, the lindy and been confirmed in the park, were spotted. the locomotion. A local band called Spare They were seen again a week later but were Parts performed music from the 1950s and expected to move on to more suitable 1960s as kids and adults competed at hula habitats. “It was wonderful to have the hooping. The night was a great success ac - majestic birds on parkway lands, even if it cording to park historian Thom Rosen - was only a temporary stop,” said Lisa blum. “We wanted to offer the public a McInnis, chief of resource management. lighter side of the history while still main - “Especially since the species was nearly ex - taining the park’s thematic integrity.” tinct only 60 years ago.” In its infancy, rock and roll reflected a One of the world’s rarest bird species, unique harmony of various African Amer - there are approximately 400 wild whoop - ican music genres that caught the attention ing cranes in two North American flocks.