The story of the
national parks
In 2022, I visited eleven national parks. At each one, I wanted to better understand who had lived there, how it was explored, and how it eventually became a national park. After scouring park book stores and the internet, I found nothing to satisfy my interest. And thus, A Short History of the National Parks was born.
In this series, I tell the story of the lands all Americans love, starting with their indigenous past and leading to their establishment as national parks.
the Southeast
In this accessible guide, you’ll find:
The story of the mysterious donor who bought half of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The reason why a president had a private fishing lodge built in Shenandoah National Park
The epic tale of an enslaved explorer in Mammoth Cave
Plus
Dozens of historic photos to help you connect to national park history
A guide to historic locations within the parks so you can experience their history for yourself!
Discover the history of eight national parks, from the most visited—Great Smoky Mountains—to the most remote—Dry Tortugas.
“With engaging prose and impressive research, Will De Man shares the unique histories of America's national parks in short, digestible narratives without bogging down in historical minutiae. De Man delivers enough information to provide readers with a deeper appreciation of our national parks while also inviting readers to learn more about the specific stories and characters that have made our national parks what they are today.
— Greg M. Peters, author of Our National Forests: Stories from America’s Most Important Public Lands
the mountain west
The history of nine national parks in the Rocky Mountain region, including some of the most popular—Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton—and most obscure—Wind Cave, Theodore Roosevelt, Black Canyon of the Gunnison.