MORE National Parks That No Longer Exist

A few months ago, I made a video titled "These National Parks No Longer Exist," which was all about the 5 National Parks that, well, no longer exist. In this video, we're taking things a step further, and covering ALL of the NPS units that no longer exist. Everything from National Historic Sites to National Monuments to National Memorials, and more. Enjoy!
"These National Parks No Longer Exist." - • These National Parks N...
"Death of a National Park: The Fossil Cycad Story" - • Death of a National Pa...
"Mar a Lago Used to be a National Park..." - • Mar a Lago Used to Be ...
"Wolf Trap: The Most Unique National Park You've Never Heard Of" - • Wolf Trap: The Most Un...
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[@bearcubdaycare]

Canadian national parks would also be interesting to cover, such as the history of Banff national park, including being the site of early meteorological studies and the documentation of inversion layers. (The record coldest temperature is less cold the higher up you go in the Canadian Rockies, due to these inversions. Outdoor enthusiasts in Calgary would use this fact on the coldest winter days, to go skiing in the mountains, as it'd be less cold up there (maybe -15C) than in Calgary (perhaps -25C).)

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I get a lot of requests for Canadian Parks! I've been to Banff, but otherwise haven't traveled extensively up there, even though I'd love to. Once the travel budget gets increased, I'll be making plenty of stories!

[@bearcubdaycare]

​@@NationalParkDiaries Luckily, discount airline WestJet has Calgary as a hub (near Banff), and gets to lots of other interesting parts of Canada too. Canada is a wonderful, fascinating place! All the best with the channel.

[@bertaboy9078]

@@bearcubdaycareLMAO westjet is budget youre funny

[@evansilva3045]

You gotta visit Algonquin provincial park in Ontario, it’s #1 in terms of lore and is considered the canoe capital of the world

[@bearcubdaycare]

My family quite liked hiking to Wheeler. It was no longer a national monument, but in addition to the hoodoos, we saw an enormous number of elk (wapiti) in a remote field. Actually not that far out of Creede Colorado, a short drive to a trailhead, then a doable day hike in and out. Or a 4WD drive closer in.

[@dwj6503]

I been there a couple of times back in the 70's and 80's. I hear there is quite a bit of beetle kill now

[@deborahm6036]

The story of Cycad Fossil Natural Park is really heartbreaking. I live in Hot Springs, SD. I just watched your story about it linked below. I go through where it’s was often, and this is the first time I have ever heard of it. A cautionary tale indeed. Thank you for letting us know about it.

[@csmlyly5736]

Also the first I have heard of it, but haven't seen a link to the video yet.... Seems interesting

[@NationalParkDiaries]

A sad story, but an important one. I'm glad you found it helpful and appreciate you taking the time to watch.

[@deborahm6036]

@@NationalParkDiaries Thank you!

[@Dsgreenly]

I'm always surprised by how many Rev War nps sites there are in the south compared to up north. You mentioning White Plains made me think of these other sites. I know a lot of it has to do with how developed the areas are, for example, Princeton and Trenton, NJ are pretty built up so there's not really any battlefields left. Brandywine Battlefield (PA) is being threatened by housing developments. The National Battlefield Trust is trying buy back land around Brandywine to preserve it. Washington's Crossing is split between PA and NJ. There's Washington's Crossing State Historic Site (PA) and Washington's Crossing State Park (NJ). I always thought that it might work better if there was just a Washington's Crossing National Historical Park. That being said, I'm sure these sites have better funding under their state umbrella than they would under federal jurisdiction.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm really glad organizations like National Battlefield Trust exist to help protect these places. The NPS is great in its role, but it can't achieve everything and is often hamstrung by budgetary/political concerns, so I'm glad we have others to help protect important history!

[@sjTHEfirst]

Great list. Have you done Valley Forge yet? I remember it was a State Park and a few years before the bicentennial, the NPS took it over.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I haven't yet. Haven't done too much exploring in that part of the country, but I will one day! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@genebro63]

A lot of the np’s was turned back to the forest service. I was just at grey towers national historic site. I think it’s the only site managed by the forest service, donated by jfk !

[@Dsgreenly]

I was up at Delaware Water Gap last weekend but didn't get a chance to check out Grey Towers.

[@shanerjedi1138]

The USDA Forest Service also manages ten national monuments, including the recently designated Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, and co manages two others.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

You are correct - that's the only NHS managed by the USFS! Although, it was like that from the start - never part of the NPS in the first place!

[@AbouttheJourney]

Great video, Cameron! I always have a bit of a chuckle when I'm reminded about Mar a Lago's history.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks Mike! Definitely one of the more interesting pieces of NPS history, that one...

[@markfletcher4605]

I have visited the site in Alaska on Prince of Wales Island where the totem poles once stood. It is indeed very remote since you need to get to it either by chartered boat or chartered float plane (assuming you do not own a local boat or plane). The Millerton Lake since is very close to me. It is now a state park, but I will have to research when it was a National Reservoir site.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Something tells me if Old Kasaan had been designated later, it probably would have stuck around in some form considering many of the Alaska parks that were designated after it definitely didn't attract that many visitors either. Although, I guess Sitka NHP protects this history today, so at least it's part of the NPS in some way.

[@bobbid65]

Flaming Gorge took my breath away. Beautiful. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worth the trip. Thanks for your videos.

[@donaldscott3921]

Great program (as always). Yes, we've visited L&C Caverns. By the way, I have a list I'd be glad to share about units that,uh, might be considered for adding to these.

[@AndrewJasinski-x1b]

I’d love to see a video going in depth on John Muir and how his writing influenced conservation. If his name is attached to a place, you just know it’s awesome. Super awesome video today as always!

[@jasonhernandez619]

Muir Woods is an example. He was known for his advocacy for sequoias.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

He's on my list of people to talk about for Park Profiles, my biography series (which I have neglected for some time now but need to get back to it). Thanks for the suggestion!

[@sq3rjick]

Flaming Gorge could totally be a national monument again. It's absolutely stunning.

[@ericpierce3660]

I love when one of your videos pops up in my feed. They're always so interesting.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So glad to hear it! Thanks so much for watching and supporting!

[@ClipsNSnips]

What about National Parks that SHOULD exist? 🤔 That could be a good video 😉 I think Antelope Canyon and Havasu Falls would be good contenders. They are both incredibly beautiful locations that are being overly exploited by the local population, making accessibility difficult. They should at least be National Monuments. 😁👍👍

[@missourimongoose8858]

I wish they would of made picture cave a national park in missouri, you should look it up if you like native american cave paintings

[@geraldking4080]

Antelope canyon belongs to the Navajo nation. Never in a million years...

[@tompfeiffer2755]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@onthewater4020]

Man I wish we had someone like you in Canada. Our National Parks have a bizarre and often dark history, as do many of our massive provincial parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

There are some really great stories from the Canadian Parks. I'd love to tell more of them here on the channel - just need to travel more to see them!

[@gtbkts]

Thanks for the awesome video and all the amazing content!!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@jwhydes5683]

Great video. Love the history lesson.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@harleygould7255]

I have to laugh about this one, a bit...It's in what's now known as Little 5 Points, a sort of funky neighborhood, that I used to live in. I know De Gress Avenue (it's only about a block long), and I lived in an apartment right at the end. I used to pass this sign going to the rail station that's about a block away. Those historical markers are all over that area, I think there were 4 of them I passed from my apartment to the rail station.

[@harleygould7255]

I meant to say it's in Atlanta, This is the image at 1:30, the sign about Manigault's Brigade. There is a park there, where they were going to put in an expressway. The park has bike trails, and leads up to the Carter Center.

[@Steveofthejungle8]

Thanks for an interesting video as always!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonhernandez619]

I camped at Flaming Gorge many years ago. I agree with the other commentator that it could still be a National Park.

[@yewtuber]

Meeman Shelby Forest State Park was also an NPS Property.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So I looked this up, and it looks like this Park was formerly part of the Recreational Demonstration Area program during the Great Depression. Technically, yes, that was under the supervision of the NPS, but none of those parks would have been considered to be part of the National Park System. Confusing, I know. Although, a few of them DID eventually become NPS units, like Catoctin Mountain Park (home of Camp David) and Prince William Forest Park. I have a whole video about the RDAs in my video about Catoctin if you want to learn more!

[@frankcase8034]

Left out the national park on oak mountain above Birmingham Alabama…. Became a state park…

[@shumandaniele]

New Philadelphia might make this list in a few years, although it seems like delisting has become rare.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That site was only recently designated (2022), so I don't see it getting delisted any time soon. It's also not too far from St. Louis and right off an Interstate, so it could garner some visits IMO.

[@TheParot161]

That was all very interesting. Wonder why so many of them were decommissioned in the 1950’s. Must’ve been some big push to clean house.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Good pattern recognition! I noticed it during research, but didn't look up if there was a change in policy associated with that, or what might have led to so many being abolished at that time. I know for all the parks that were added in 1933, that was part of a reorganization effort where many battlefields were transferred from the War Department over to the NPS

[@TBrincefield]

I've been to the OKC site. Didn't realize it was not a part of the NPS.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

That's the most recent deauthorization! And technically, it's still an affiliated area of the NPS, just not a full unit anymore.

[@explorewithme4707]

I got the gray version of the shirt you got on.

[@safron2442]

What about Davis Bayou in Ocean Springs, MS? Everyone i know claims it is a national park and i am unsure as to why. Maybe they think it is or once was part of the gulf islands national seashore?

[@almeisam]

I've seen Mt. of the Holy Cross from Shrine Pass, been to Lewis & Clark Caverns (it's said they never saw the caverns themselves) and Wheeler Geologic Area (14 miles of some of the roughest, tiltiest, boggiest jeep trail I've ever driven).

[@NationalParkDiaries]

A nice collection!

[@shumandaniele]

Remoteness doesn't seem to be a criterion for delisting now. Aniakchak comes to mind.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yep! And a lot of the lesser visited NHPs and NHSs as well. Parks today come into existence much more for the resources and stories they protect than for their ability to be broadly visited (although that is still an important factor)

[@sinjin6219]

Thanks for the info! BTW, "Papago" is pronounced PA-pa-go. 🙂

[@zbutler111]

Echota is pronounced with the 'ch', not a k sound.

[@geraldking4080]

Blind faith in NPS will never make it better.

[@Chris-ut6eq]

👍 The politics of national parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

100%

[@meganstahlberger608]

which one do you wish had stayed?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I think Castle Pinckney has a really interesting story and slots right in to the interpretation of events at Fort Sumter. It could have easily been a separate unit of that park had it been maintained and properly developed.

[@nv3831]

It looks like you can access Spirit Mountain Cave or former Shoshone Cavern National Monument. BUT you have to be an experienced caver and apply for a permit from BLM. Interesting stuff as always. Thanks!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I guess technically that's still public access! Although I was more talking about day use/non-technical types of access lol. Great point though and thanks for watching!

[@felixcharles9773]

0:12 It’s pronounced Mackinac ;)

[@ryanlovesanimalcrossing1887]

First!