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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[@midriffzero]

The Shoshone Caves in Cody WY are still accessible to the public you just have to get permission from the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management in Cody. Its set up that way for safety reasons since there is no walking paths and the caves require rock climbing gear. This way they can send in Search and Rescue if you aren't out by a specific time.

[@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

[@bobbid65]

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

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@josephjohnson9805]

Flaming Gorge is very pretty and seems to have fewer visitors than it used to... Which is sad...

[@optimus163]

@@josephjohnson9805 Few visitors means less impacts and a more natural experience for those who do visit.

[@kenpatton8761]

Drove through it a couple of years ago in Oct. We had 1 vehicle pass us going in the opposite direction, no one behind us for most of the time. We left Vernal UT about 7am heading north on HWY 191 to HWY 44 to Manila, then HWY 43 then HWY 530 all the way to I-80 in Green River WY. Guess there’s just not a lot of tourist that want to brave the weather at that time of year and the fact that most of the businesses are seasonal. It was as beautiful as you mentioned. We had the same experience at Teddy Roosevelt National park in ND. Went through there in Nov. Beautiful sunny sky’s, temps in the 60’s and we were the only ones in the park except for the 2 park rangers in the welcome center. Got some great pictures of the wild horses that were on the road in front of us. Shoulder seasons seem to be the best times to travel if you’re able to do it. Cheers

[@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 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!

[@skip6557]

Used to run through Edgemont a lot. It was crazy to see what happened there.

[@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!

[@gavinwilliams5053]

I grew up in Fayetteville, near Camp Blount. I had no idea it was ever a National Monument! Camp Blount is a bigger deal as it seems. Those meeting points were where THOUSANDS of Tennessee volunteer militia were gathered, partially contributing to Tennessee’s designation as “the Volunteer state.” Unfortunately, Camp Blount became a Wal-Mart and parking lot. Luckily, in the last few years, the County bought up the land near the Walmart and has turned it into a new historical monument and park. Happy ending.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I did read about the "Volunteer State" connection during my research, so I can certainly see why Tennesseans have such a reverence for it! Glad it got a happy ending as well!

[@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.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@ninjagirl226]

I have seen Castle Pinckney from the Ferry that takes you to Fort Sumter. The park rangers make sure to point it out and explain it from the ferry so even though the NPS doesn’t own the land and you can’t visit it still feels like it’s part of Fort Sumpter and Fort Moultrie. I have also been to several sites for the Atlanta campaign. And yeah most sites are destroyed. They just wanted to rebuild Atlanta after Sherman burned it to the ground as opposed to preserve it. I do have some fired bullets purchased at an antique store that supposedly came from the Atlanta campaign.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It's been so long since I did Fort Sumter that I honestly can't remember if I learned about Castle Pinckney on the ferry ride or not. Will have to go back soon and see!

[@ninjagirl226]

@@NationalParkDiaries I believe they point it out and explain it because otherwise people ask questions. Like my mom, who assumed it was Fort Sumpter at first.

[@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!

[@sunnygirlishappy]

Great video, Cameron. I've been by the one in Chattanooga, and I think a couple of my Mom's brothers might be buried there since they were in the war. Anyway, I await your next story. Love you❤ Grandmommie

[@AmericanWanderers]

The cave outside Cody Wy is supposedly accessible via a key to unlock the gate held at the Commerce Office in town. The road is said to be rather difficult and may require a 4WD vehicle.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

I think I’ve been to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. My father and stepmother took my sister and me to some large performance arts facility out in northern Virginia for an outdoor viewing of _Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince_ once, and I think they referred to it by some name like “Wolf Trap”. The picture shown of it lines up well with what I remember of it. As for Verendrye National Monument, recent research has suggested that yes, that actually might have been where it took place.

[@tompfeiffer2755]

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

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@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

[@thomaswilliams2273]

When I visited the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks I read that the idea behind the Canadian parks was "and island of civilization in a sea of wilderness," I think the US idea is the inversion of this.

[@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!

[@douglashero3261]

I have been camping, boating, swimming, cliff jumping at the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in Utah -- it is an AMAZING place!

[@josephjohnson9805]

Grand Tower Missouri is a area protected by order of President Grant. They apparently took the order establishing Yellowstone and just put in Grand Tower instead of Yellowstone. However the US Army has always owned it. The state of Missouri has run visits out of a state park and also a national forest. In Illinois Grand Tower Illinois has a view deck to view it. It came very close to being a national park.

[@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.

[@UltraMagaFan2]

I’m a South Carolina native. I grew up fishing the Cooper River. I’ve been to Downtown Charleston more times than I can count. And I never knew Pickney Castle was a thing. I always thought that Shutes Island was never settled. You can’t see the castle from land and I don’t do any offshore fishing so I’ve never seen it in a boat either.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I'm the same way. Grew up in Charleston, and visited Ft Sumter, but never knew about Castle Pinckney. Just goes to show all the things we might not know about our own backyards!

[@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...

[@ClaytonHensley]

I was just talking to someone yesterday about New Echota. It is a fascinating place and is just a short distance off I-75. History lovers should make a stop there. Georgia seems to be doing a good job with the site.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Never heard of it before making this video, but it's on my list to stop now!

[@whyjnot420]

There is a site on (in?) the Cape Cod National Seashore (which is governed by the National Park Service) that literally doesn't exist anymore, but is still maintained. The Marconi Wireless Station in South Wellfleet. The actual location has been lost to erosion into the Atlantic.

[@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.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I love those little known pieces of history! I bet most of the people in that area never knew they had a former NPS unit in their backyard!

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@NationalParkDiariesWashington DC is strange, in the sense that I have family who live in such a place that if you go out onto some residential street, around where the grid is intersected by diagonal avenues, some triangular segments made between the intersecting streets are small parks, which for some reason are maintained by the Department of the Interior. Why a federal department for a small city park with just grass and trees barely wide enough for me to stand in at parts? I do not know. Devolution has yet to arrive to the District of Columbia.

[@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!

[@gtbkts]

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

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@teemusid]

I watched many baseball games at Phoenix Municipal stadium, and Papago Park was across the street, The view over the outfield fence of the rock formations was special.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

What a view!

[@gtlfb]

Very interesting. The Union Station Visitor Center was an idiotic idea, and everyone knew it. It is several blocks from the Mall, convenient only to tourists who arrived by train. (Who probably could be counted by the dozens). At the time, there weren’t even any nearby hotels. As several columnists wrote, there was absolutely no reason for tourists to go there. Fortunately, it was beautifully restored and transformed into a very popular shopping and dining destination, always packed. Alas, those days are gone, too. Although still in fine condition and a very busy train station, new development is in a sort of limbo.

[@garretthuman5892]

I live near Kennesaw Mountain, awesome park with a lot of acreage. Very cool visit if not for the history atleast the nature in the southeast.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

It's a great resource for the Atlanta area for sure!

[@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.

[@janoswimpffen7305]

I count 38 other delisted National Parks. Most are now state parks, plus 3 units that were absorbed into others.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

If you don't mind me asking, what 38 are you referring to? No documentation I found listed an additional 38 delisted units?

[@janoswimpffen7305]

​@@NationalParkDiaries I am trying to find the source for these. I remember it came from a list compiled by a retired professor who specialized in this. I have hundreds of Parks related websites bookmarked and I know that it's in there somewerehe, but can't yet find it yet. However I did make a list of them. Here the ones in addition to yours, sorted by state. Having dug further I see that effectively we are both correct.Nearly all of these I have listed as National Recreation Demonstration Areas (NRDA), sort of a study area to be considered as a park--but didn't pass the test. Effectively, these are yet anothre category altogether, not delisted but rather never completely listed. I remember that the website that I can't find went into detail on each and the stories vary. Some did get listed briefly. (off an xls sheet so the columns got scrambled here, but you should be able to make them out. We can PM to go further--you do great workd! UNIT Previous State Disposition Oak Mountain NRDA AL State Park Jackson Forest NRDA CA State Forest Fort Jefferson NM FL absorbed Hard Labor Creek NP GA State Park Alexander Stephens Memorial NRDA GA State Park Franklin D. Roosevelt NRDA GA State Park Pere Marquette NRDA IL State Park Winamac - Tippenacoe NRDA IN State Park Versailles NRDA IN State Park Otter Creek NRDA KY Municipal Camden Hills NRDA ME State Park Yankee Springs NRDA MI State Park Waterloo NRDA MI State Rec Area St. Croix NRDA MN State Park Cuivre River NRDA MO State Park Knob Noster NRDA MO State Park Lake of the Ozarks NRDA MO State Park William B. Umstead NRDA NC State Park Bear Brook NRDA NH State Park Georgia O'Keefe NHS NM Private Lake Murray NRDA OK State Park McLoughlin House NHS OR absorbed Fort Clatsop NME OR absorbed Silver Falls NRDA OR State Park Blue Knob NRDA PA State Park French Creek NRDA PA State Park Hickory Run NRDA PA State Park Laurel Hill NRDA PA State Park Raccoon Creek NRDA PA State Park Arcadia NRDA RI State Mgmt Area Cheraw NRDA SC State Park Kings Mountain NRDA SC State Park South Carolina Waysides NRDA SC State Waysides Custer Park NRDA SD State Park Meeman-Shelby NRDA TN State Park Montgomery Bell NRDA TN State Park Falls Creek Falls NRDS TN State Rec. Park Salt Creek NRDA VA State Park Virginia Waysides NRDA VA State Waysides Lower Saint Croix NSR WI absorbed Guernsey NRDA WY State Park Don't have time to do them one by one but just taking an example here is the history of Hard Labor Creek and it mentions that it was a Nat. Park in the 1940s. visitmadisonga.com/state-park-history/

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@janoswimpffen7305 ah, yes, the RDA program! I've talked about them in a video I made about Catoctin Mountain Park, but they might be deserving of their own video actually. They're always tricky to classify, but I didn't include them in this video since they were never *technically* considered to be part of the National Park System, only administered by the National Park Service during the New Deal. Some of these things get so confusing! Appreciate you taking the time to list these out and dig deeper for me, and for taking the time to watch and support my videos. It doesn't go unnoticed!

[@troublewithweebles]

"Mystery Flesh Pit National Park" also no longer exists.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

How could I have forgotten...

[@stephaniegiacco7524]

“Man I sure can’t wait to go to the MFPNP on July 4th, 2007”

[@janh5199]

Sad that some parks were delisted because of lack of visitation. You would think that would be somewhat a good thing since that would mean less upkeep to what needed preserved and protected.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Many were delisted during a time when priorities/values were different. I think today, we wouldn't consider visitation to be a key factor for the value of a park, as we've moved to more of a resource preservation framework. Yet another thing that makes these delisted parks such an interesting piece of history!

[@jwhydes5683]

Great video. Love the history lesson.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@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!

[@Steveofthejungle8]

Thanks for an interesting video as always!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thanks for watching!

[@c.w.johnsonjr6374]

I am surprised that there was not more interest in the Atlanta Campaign park considering the major role it played in Gone With the Wind.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

The novel was published in 1936 and the film made in 1939. Maybe development had already been occurring before then.

[@darkmatterhafnium1522]

castle pickney is pretty cool to me, a fort kind of just left there to be reclaimed by nature. I wonder if its possible to boat out there

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I think the island is privately owned now, but not sure if access is still granted? It would have been cool for the NPS to keep though IMO, totally could have fit in as part of Ft Sumter

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@NationalParkDiariesI’ve heard conflicting claims saying that either the SCV or the state government owns it.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@DiamondKingStudios when I last checked the tax parcels, I saw a couple of private owners. What I don't know is if they permit access or not

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@NationalParkDiaries Being the third great-grandson of a Virginia militiaman, I’d joke about joining the SCV and finding out myself, though I’d probably never actually do that.

[@sq3rjick]

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

[@frisco21]

Steens Mountain in Oregon deserves National Park status, in my opinion.

[@litning123]

Interesting topic! Good job!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Thank you!

[@jadenova]

I live in the Charleston, SC area and I had no idea Castle Pinckney was ever a National Park.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I grew up there and never even heard of the place, much less visited it! Really fascinating place

[@jadenova]

@@NationalParkDiaries No one can really visit it. It just sits there abandoned.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

When I started out in the Boy Scouts, we spent some time in August going to the _USS Yorktown_ (CV-10) to stay onboard a night or two (something that probably quite a few Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops throughout the South have historically done). There was a ferry tour around the waters off Charleston that began and ended on a pier by the _Yorktown_ and the guide told us about Castle Pinckney as we passed it. We went to the _Yorktown_ again five years later and took a ferry onto Fort Sumter and back. It was on the later trip that I learned the abandoned island was owned at some point by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, having formerly been federal land. I was under the impression that they were using it for an annual retreat or as a museum, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[@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!

[@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

[@kellyr3548]

I've been to Father Millet! Nothing there to indicate is former NPS status. Neat!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Lots of these are that way - you can visit them, but no indication of former NPS involvement. Lots of forgotten NPS history with these parks, which makes them all the more fascinating to learn about!

[@jasonhernandez619]

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

[@danielcalderone6244]

Hey, I have that same exact t-shirt. It's from REI.

[@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!

[@therizinosaurus214]

Was not expecting to see two references to Oklahoma

[@653j521]

Where was that Vérendrye site? In SD it is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable, VER- en dree. (On the other hand, look how Pierre is said, with that England-style compressing of syllables.) I know the Ft. Pierre site where a plate was found and upended the whole idea scholars had created about their route. Other plates still exist, according to the Vérendryes, buried and unfound. It's still a treasure hunt. Sounds like a place to visit: "Crow Flies High Butte (elev. 2,047 feet) is a conspicuous landform located on the left bank of the Missouri River in west-central North Dakota. It is situated along North Dakota Highway 23 two miles west of New Town on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The butte's value as a landmark and vantage point was especially important to early explorers who had little or no dependable information about the area and the travel routes and hazards it might offer. It makes sense that someone who encountered this landform back in the days when this part of North Dakota was uncharted territory would want to make their way to the top of it and have a look around.... Crowhigh Butte may have played a part in the first extensive exploration of the northern United States east of the Rocky Mountains, which was undertaken by celebrated French explorer and fur trader Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye and his four sons." National Parks Traveler. (Only two sons are mentioned on the lead plate.)

[@TangoIndiaMikeJuliet]

It would be an interesting road trip to visit all the delisted parks in the country.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Agreed!

[@zbutler111]

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

[@davidharper1211]

I for the summers of 2017 and 2017 I worked for California State Parks at Millerton Lake I never know it was owned by the NPS. I did know its is still owned by the Federal Government but managed by State Parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So much lost history across the country! Honestly, finding out about these places and being able to appreciate them more was my favorite thing about making this episode.

[@duo293]

Milerton has a rich, largely washed away history. I appreciate your mention of it

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Sadly, I think that's the case with a lot of these decommissioned NPS units. I found so many fascinating stories about them while researching this video

[@duo293]

@@NationalParkDiaries that’s unfortunate. Videos like this contribute to keeping history alive thankfully

[@frankcase8034]

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

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So, technically Oak Mountain was part of the Recreational Demonstration Area program, which was overseen by the NPS, but none of those parks were ever considered to be official NPS units. Some did ultimately become part of the NPS (Catoctin Mountain Park and Prince William Forest Park), but most were turned back over to the states, as in the case of Oak Mountain. I have a whole video on RDAs as part of a video I made about Catoctin Mountain Park if you're interested.

[@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!

[@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 American 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!

[@TeddyNovak1]

It's the AMERICAN Battlefield Trust. GREAT organization. They're working to restore some of the Princeton Battlefield in anticipation of the semiquincentennial.

[@triciac.5078]

But also NJ preserved the battlefields from the revolutionary war. So we don’t have NPS for them, but NJ has several parks instead.

[@sinjin6219]

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

[@fireseeker4him]

Hello, can you please make a video about or explain why Great Falls Park in MD and VA is under NPS designation? It appears to be a state park that is run by the NPS and my family has been trying to figure out why.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I can answer this pretty quickly here in the comments actually! So both Great Falls locations, on either side of the river, are under NPS jurisdiction. On the Maryland side, the park is managed as part of the C&O Canal NHP. On the Virginia side, the park is managed as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. To my knowledge, neither location is under state park management.

[@fireseeker4him]

@@NationalParkDiaries thanks!

[@PabbyMan2000]

I visited the totem poles in Ketchican

[@swithinbarclay4797]

I wonder if there's former Park sites, where you cannot even approach their vicinity, on pain of Federal Felony Trespass Charges? In the same vein, I suppose that a fair number of these sites, has passed to municipal, county/parish/borough, state, and private ownership, same consequences.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

At least as far as I could find, only one of these sites (Shoshone Caverns) is no longer publicly accessible (and even that one, I've been told, is accessible with a BLM caving permit for those with caving experience). All of the others have been turned back over to other federal agencies, but still with public access, or to state/local govts, also with public access

[@swithinbarclay4797]

@@NationalParkDiaries Oh, I'd just learned elsewhere, that White Sands NHS is only open just twice a year, for tourists to experience their Trinity Test Site, where the first ever nuclear device was tested, way back in '45. Government security, I suppose, imposed by our militaries, intelligence agencies, etc., I'd gather. Do NOT remove Trinitite! Health concerns, too.

[@explorewithme4707]

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

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Great shirt!

[@cak5171]

Forest Service out here picking up all the scraps

[@NationalParkDiaries]

There's actually a long history of the NPS and USFS "exchanging" lands. Many National Park units have also been carved out of existing USFS holdings

[@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.

[@swithinbarclay4797]

Kennedy Center?? It's hard to picture the Park Service, being Music/Dramatic Impresarios(Laughs!!)!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

The NPS actually still oversees Wolf Trap NP for the Performing Arts! It's a very cool venue with a super unique management situation. I did a video all about it a few months ago if you'd like to check it out

[@swithinbarclay4797]

@@NationalParkDiaries I shall do that to see if NPS actually does it as well as private Management of Symphony Orchestras/Opera Companies/Ballet Companies/Dramatic Organizations(Laughs!!). Or, the late Bill Graham, if we're talking Rock 'n' Roll.

[@jordanm.4411]

Would be interested if you have any research on why Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico still remains closed since March 2020? Last I heard the Cochiti Pueblo tribe allows access to the site via their reservation, yet have refused to allow public access since COVID to this National Monument, effectively leaving it closed for 4+ years. Most recent article from a Santa Fe newspaper had no reopening date and was from October 2023.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I hadn't heard of this, but that is very interesting after looking into it a little bit. I'll be keeping my eye on that

[@jordanm.4411]

@@NationalParkDiaries thanks! I sympathize with their desire to preserve cultural sites and the legacy of the federal government’s treatment of tribes, but the silence on what’s going on there (especially given the NPS designation/funding) is perplexing

[@ChristiesThisnThat]

Castle Pinckney NM is shaped like Hello Kitty. :)

[@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?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Looks like Davis Bayou is in fact part of Gulf Islands National Seashore

[@safron2442]

@@NationalParkDiaries oh wow! So I'm the one who has been mistaken. Thanks for the correction!

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@safron2442 no worries! These things can get confusing in a hurry lol

[@amanda-10]

I'm so confused. Abraham Lincoln birthplace historic Park still exists and is on the national parks website.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Correct. It's still part of the National Park System, just not as a "National Park," as it was before. It is now a National Historical Park.

[@gushemingway]

Wait! What’s the story with Flaming Gorge??? When did that change. I went there with my dad 30 years ago and I thought it was part of the National park system.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Flaming Gorge NRA was transferred from the NPS to the USFS in 1968, as the site lies entirely within the boundaries of the Ashley NF. The NPS has never really been that interested in managing reservoir-related recreation sites, and was never under any legislative mandate to do so, hence the transfer after only 5 years as an NPS unit.

[@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)

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Meanwhile, Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks probably each get only a few thousand visitors a year, making them the least visited national parks in the country. Though, to be fair, they’re in far inland Alaska.

[@shumandaniele]

@@DiamondKingStudios yes, very costly to get there, and it's not uncommon for the VC to be unmanned. Still hoping to get there someday.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@shumandaniele I’d like to just get to Alaska at all. Once I’m there, those northern parks seem like a great adventure.

[@shumandaniele]

@@DiamondKingStudios we did Katmai, Denali, and Lake Clark this past summer. Highly recommended! Do your research and plan (and save!) at least a year ahead.

[@HarunRaffael]

How about a video on National Parks that were proposed but never came to be?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Might be interesting!

[@takeohtyme]

I've heard that Kennesaw Mountain Landis was a bad mf-er.

[@calebtar]

I’ve lived at Shasta and at Lake Texoma 🤣🤣

[@dhm7815]

This is off topic but is there an American national park in England? It was ceded by England and dedicated to JFK. One episode of Mark Felton's War Stories deals with it.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

So, I just looked this up. It's not a National Park, but it is technically US land. 1 acre was ceded to America after JFK's assassination and is managed by a Trust today. That's pretty interesting, I never knew about that!

[@janoswimpffen7305]

Total nerd here: Lifetime bucket list of visting all NPS sites, existing or abolished, Nat. Forest,, Nat. Wildlife Refuges, National Hist. Landmarks, National Natural Area, National Recreational Trails (not the full lengths!), Wilderness Areas and all federal equivalents in Canada (Parks Canada, National Wildlife Areas etc.). The total is about 9000. At about 40% -- probably won't make them all. Of the abolished sites mentioned, have been to Fr. Millett Cross, Lewis & Clark Cave, Mar-A-Lardo (long before the orange one was pres), Nat'l Visitor Center, OK City Memorial, Papago Saguaro, Shoshone Cavern, Verndyre, White Plains, Shasta NRA, Shadow Mt, and Flaming Gorge

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Quite the list, enjoy your travels!

[@joinjen3854]

VERY Disrespectful to call a former and future POTUS by a color. It exposes who YOU are. And it is MAR A LAGO. Not Lardo.

[@kevinmcnutt2558]

OKC national memorial has never been a national park. It has always been an affiliate.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Not true: www.nps.gov/okci/learn/historyculture/enabling-act.htm

[@phoenixjim0527]

Chapters or timestamps anyone? Or a list of the parks? (Too lazy here)

[@shinyprisma6085]

Somebody tell him about Mystery Flesh Pit National Park

[@debbieannsmith8962]

Oh wow

[@Chris-ut6eq]

👍 The politics of national parks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

100%

[@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...

[@Katmai_Bear_480]

@@geraldking4080 Havasu is also on Native land. The Havasupai tribe are the administrators of that land at the bottom of Grand Canyon.

[@cbird4922]

Papago is pronounced “PApa-go.”

[@laysdong]

What a coincidence that all these major civil war historical sites were abolished in the 50s

[@Jarrett_derryberry]

New E-CHO-TA not E-CO-TA

[@geraldking4080]

Blind faith in NPS will never make it better.

[@drunkbikewrenchen6400]

National parks are great if you wanna go where everybody else goes and deal with crowds, it’s like a mall with trees. No thanks.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

I think that's a gross oversimplification. Certain parts of certain parks are very crowded, but National Parks are very much still a place you can go an find peace and solitude in the natural world.

[@keananfischer8113]

Um not claiming by any means to know something i did not whitness with my own eyes. But i live in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota on Verendrye road. And we have a lead plate with inscriptions on both sides of it found by some kids back in like 1913ish. So not saying that explorer Verendrye specifically left that plate there or was the first "white" explorer here. But he definitely was real and passed through the country side here.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yes, definitely real and definitely traveled in the area. The delisting occurred because the events it was supposed to commemorate didn't happen at the exact location that was later protected, at least not as modern historians have been able to tell. Without that historical significance, the site didn't have much reason to be federally protected.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@NationalParkDiariesI’ve heard conflicting information on whether or not Crow Flies High Butte (the location of the monument) was the correct place. The belief that it wasn’t caused the delisting, but more recent research says that it might have been and there was no reason to delist it.

[@oligoprimer]

It’s PAP-a-go park, and it’s fully 10 miles from downtown Phx. It’s much closer to downtown Tempe ~2 miles.

[@benjamineskridge8697]

This always annoys me for some reason. Sure, some of these sites were/are maintained by the NPS. However, that DOES NOT make them National Parks. There is a distinction between National Parks, Monuments, Historic Sites, etc.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Frankly, I do that out of ease of packaging for a KZbin audience. If you've been around my channel for awhile, I frequently mention the distinction between designations (I have a whole video on them), and even in this video I refer to each site by its proper designation. I'm well aware that each of these sites wasn't considered a "National Park." Management wise though, the NPS doesn't really make a distinction between the various designations, and manages each site for the same conservation outcomes

[@J-Cizzle45]

Wow, Donald Trump owns an old National Park? Now that seems pretty American.

[@mangographics225]

Thank You for these posts - Parks really do belong to us the American Citizens and i would like to think we could protect them from the Greedy Equity Corporations that are salivating to get their hands on them!

[@TechnoDelta]

What I wish is the Presidents "creating" new parks in Utah. 75% Is now Federally owned. There's no reason for Bears Ears to be THAT big.

[@CatLoverx900]

Blue budgets, well didn’t want to keep that in the budget. Fact.

[@indtexcol]

What about Bears Ears, UT? Wasn’t it made a NM under Obama with the disagreement of the Native Americans; and decommissioned under Trump?

[@NationalParkDiaries]

Yes, Bears Ears was declared a National Monument by President Obama, although it is actually administered by the USFS and the BLM, rather than the NPS. 5 different tribes worked with the Obama Administration in consultation to create Bears Ears, and now actually work in a co-management arrangement for the monument, a first of its kind agreement. Bears Ears wasn't decommissioned under Trump, although he did shrink it significantly (by 85%). I have a whole video on it if you'd like to learn more!

[@indtexcol]

@@NationalParkDiaries yes. I would like to see the video.

[@NationalParkDiaries]

@@indtexcol here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5u8inSuZrWMmrs

[@indtexcol]

I was at Four Corners Monument last year. In talking with a Native American he was disappointed how in the past the government promised them partnership type assistance and did not follow through. I don’t know if this would be a story you might be interested in.

[@npcfigureathletedawnirish691]

Some people call it The War of Northern Agression.

[@petesteirer]

So NPS will turn them into parking lots. Then they'll make money which is the whole idea.

[@ryanlovesanimalcrossing1887]

First!

[@ronaldannas1935]

Yeah......Mar A Lago use to belong to the government, donated to them for use. Now just an eye sore and sore spot for anyone that knows that. If didn't cost so much to maintain, it would have been a great MWR lodge for the military. I am budget cutters in the government for that.

[@kjflyte5088]

Short on mar a lago ?? Guess im short on watching.

[@felixcharles9773]

0:12 It’s pronounced Mackinac ;)

[@Magdalenasfears]

Lol please don't. I cringed and almost didn't watch the video until I saw the wink 😂 I'm cool with people not pronouncing it right, I get it, weird french pronunciation, but I just woke up and my brain already hurts haha

[@scenicshorts2973]

Mackinac pronounces mackinaw