280 episodes

This weekly story-based show takes you behind the events, people, and nature that have shaped our National Parks, and the 421 units managed by the National Park Service.

America’s National Parks Podcast RV Miles Network

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 832 Ratings

This weekly story-based show takes you behind the events, people, and nature that have shaped our National Parks, and the 421 units managed by the National Park Service.

    The Prisoner of Shark Island

    The Prisoner of Shark Island

    When John Wilkes Booth shot and killed President Abraham Lincoln, he broke his left leg in the process, leaping to the stage at Ford's Theater. He and his getaway man on the door of Dr. Samuel Mudd at four in the morning for assistance. Mudd set, splinted, and bandaged the broken leg. The two stayed with Mudd for about 12 hours as the doctor's handyman made a pair of crutches.
    Within days Dr. Mudd was arrested and charged with conspiracy and with harboring Booth and Harold during their escape. 
    Today, we’re revisiting the story of Dr. Samuel Mudd, one of the earliest stories we told on the show. In 1936, a film was made loosely based on Mudd's story called THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND, and two years later, it was adapted into a radio drama starring Gary Cooper as part of the Lux Radio Theater. On this episode, we're playing that program for you.

    • 54 min
    National Park News | Major National Park Rescue, Rocky Mountain Increasing Camping Fees, Grizzly Bears Return to Cascades

    National Park News | Major National Park Rescue, Rocky Mountain Increasing Camping Fees, Grizzly Bears Return to Cascades

    Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com.
    In this episode, we're looking at the federal government's decision to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades, Death Valley National Park has reopened most of its roads after last year's severe flooding, a group of skiers is rescued at Kenai Fjords, and more. 
    Comment on the Rocky Mountain National Park camping fee increase proposal here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RMNP_FrontcountryCampground_Fees_2024

    • 10 min
    Capitol Reef: Fruit Trees in the Utah Desert

    Capitol Reef: Fruit Trees in the Utah Desert

    Once the only access road to Capitol Reef National Park, Capitol Gorge provides a harsh and beautiful stone causeway that opens up into a world of bizarre and varied stone formations, desert washes both narrow and wide, and the types of plants common in the high desert – stunted trees like pinyon pine and Utah juniper, prickly pear cactus, the brilliant orange of globemallows and striking red of desert paintbrush. 
    And then a sight that is unfathomable in the desert: the delicate, showy blossoms of fruit trees.   The blooming and fruiting trees create a strange and wonderful picture set against the magnificent cliffs and rocks of the high desert.
    Hosted By Jason Epperson
    Written By Lauren Eisenberg Davis
    Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com.

    • 14 min
    Echoes of the Past: The Saga of Theodore Roosevelt National Park's Wild Horses

    Echoes of the Past: The Saga of Theodore Roosevelt National Park's Wild Horses

    What's with the big controversy over wild horses? In this episode, we take a look at these creatures and their place in the ecology and history of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 
    Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com.

    • 13 min
    National Park News | National Parks Get Vandalized, NPS Sued For Not Accepting Cash, New National Monument?

    National Park News | National Parks Get Vandalized, NPS Sued For Not Accepting Cash, New National Monument?

    In this episode, we're taking a look two vandalism incidents in national parks, a lawsuit against the National Park Service over not accepting cash as payment for entrance at some units, some potential new and expanded national monuments, and the details of the upcoming National Park Week.
    Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com.

    • 8 min
    EXPLORE ACT Returns Filming in National Parks and Expands Access to Public Lands

    EXPLORE ACT Returns Filming in National Parks and Expands Access to Public Lands

    In this episode, we're taking a look at the new EXPLORE act, passed by the US House of Representatives and on its way to the Senate, that will establish new bike trails, new accessible trails, ease concessionaire permitting in National Parks, and more, along with revamping the rules that pretty much shut down filming videos in national parks over the past few years.
    Use code PARKS30 for $30 off of a $500 or more booking at www.rvshare.com.
     
     

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
832 Ratings

832 Ratings

sloth travel club ,

Great pod cast. Really enjoyed the wild horse episode of Theodore Roosevelt.

Always informative and enjoyable. Thanks for the program.

Btown Bill ,

Keep up the great work

Thanks for the Gettysburg episode. I had never heard the Carl Sagan speech before, it was very inspiring!

kozaus ,

First podcast

This is the first podcast that I’ve listened to. I’ve enjoyed every episode. Sadly, I’m all caught up now, but i look forward to every new episode! 👍

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts
Fail Better with David Duchovny
Lemonada Media
Shawn Ryan Show
Shawn Ryan | Cumulus Podcast Network
This American Life
This American Life
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Blame it on the Fame: Milli Vanilli
Wondery

You Might Also Like

RV Miles Podcast
RV Miles Network
Exploring the National Parks
Dirt In My Shoes
Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast
Matt and Karen Smith
The RV Atlas Podcast
RVFTA Podcast Network
RV Lifestyle RV Podcast
Mike Wendland
Travel Squad Podcast
Travel Squad Podcast