Big Cypress – Florida
Big Cypress is not exactly a national park, but a national preserve. A national preserve allows certain traditional uses to continue while still protecting the land. When Congress established Big Cypress in 1974, it became one of the very first two national preserves in the country,
Big Cypress protects nearly 729,000 acres of land, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. There are countless ways to explore its varied landscape, including boardwalks and trails. Birds are everywhere along with alligators and a mosaic of swamps, cypress and mangroves.
Big Cypress also regulates the freshwater flow that feeds the fisheries, agricultural land and drinking water for many Floridians. It is a quiet preserve that sustains the life and communities that are rooted in its waters.
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Abraham Lincoln’s Home – Springfield, Illinois
I enjoy studying and exploring Presidential sites, and I have visited all of the Presidential libraries and many smaller historic locations. Of course, I am partial to some presidents more than others, and for me one that is most special is Abraham Lincoln. As a child, we celebrated his birthday in February each year, separately, […]
Springfield Armory National Historic Site – Massachusetts
I have visited the Springfield Armory National Historic Site a few times over the years. I have left with a deep appreciation of how this place shaped American history. Founded in 1794, at the direction of George Washington, the Springfield Armory became the center of American military manufacturing for nearly two hundred years. During its […]
Valley Forge – A Different Kind of Battleground – Pennsylvania
The last time I visited Valley Forge was in 2019. So many of our National Parks are preserved because they were battlefields: places where lives were lost and freedom was defended. Valley Forge is different, it is not a battlefield, no shots were fired here. Yet it remains one of the most important sites in the […]
