Obed Wild & Scenic River
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
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
Another presidential site I explored through the National Park Service was the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tennessee. During our visit, we toured both the tailor shop where Johnson learned his trade and the home where he and his family lived. The simple bedroom shown here offered a glimpse into the personal side […]
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
A visit to the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is an opportunity to explore one of the most important educational institutions in American history. Established as a National Historic Site in 1974, the park preserves a portion of the original Tuskegee Institute campus and the legacy of Booker T. Washington, whose vision helped transform educational opportunities for […]
San Juan National Historic Site
Walking through the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico feels like stepping into four centuries of Atlantic world history. Perched above the waters of San Juan Bay, these massive stone fortifications stand as reminders of an era when empires fought to control the New World. Spain poured enormous resources into protecting this small island […]
