Obed WSR – Tennessee
When I traveled through Tennessee, I found myself moving through the landscape of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Unlike many places we visit and clearly arrive at, this was a landscape you enter without gates or formal entrances. At the Obed WSR there are miles of creeks and rivers.
This remarkable river system came under federal protection in 1976, when it was designated a National Wild and Scenic River and officially placed under the care of the National Park Service. This was signed into law by Gerald Ford, at a time when proposed dam projects threatened to flood these gorges and alter the landscape.
The Obed was protected specifically to remain undeveloped. Its inclusion in the National Park Service was about preserving free-flowing rivers and surrounding ecosystems.

Read More From Nancy
Fort Smith – Arkansas
While traveling around Arkansas, I visited Fort Smith National Historic Site. This fort was established in 1817, as a U.S. military post to project federal presence on a volatile frontier. From the beginning, it served as a gateway to the West, a place where eastern law met western uncertainty. The strategic position of this fort made […]
Dinosaur National Monument – Colorado
When I visited Dinosaur National Monument, I couldn’t help but think of all the young boys who come into our office talking about dinosaurs. They know the names and, and to them, dinosaurs are larger than life. Standing inside this monument, I realized how unforgettable it would be for them to see the real thing. […]
Cape Hatteras National Seashore – North Carolina
On our vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, we visited the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This site was established in 1953 as the first national seashore in the United States Cape Hatteras protects more than 70 miles of barrier island coastline. Rising above the landscape is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse which was completed in […]