Yosemite, have you been working out? You've never looked better. Holy smokes Great Smokies, it's been too long since we've gone on a hike. And Badlands, you are bad as you want to be, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Today marks the National Parks' official 100th birthday, which, in our humble opinion, deserves a shout out. Our 405 National Parks have been inspiring, teaching, and challenging visitors every day. The Grand Canyon, Florida Everglades, and Yosemite get a lot of play, but significant historical sites like the Rosie the Riveter museum in Richmond, CA, and the Civil War battleground of Shiloh, TN are National Parks, too.
You don't get to be 100 and playing host to 753,022 visitors a day (give or take) without needing a little work. Tucks here and there are done with pulaskis and chainsaws, but major work happens under the skilled hands of heavy equipment operators. Projects using construction equipment rehabilitate natural resources, maintain roads and buildings, and move debris from fires and other disasters, among other jobs. Trails projects clear trees and underbrush to make hiking safer.
The National Parks, along with the posse of people who care about its buildings and landscapes, will wow visitors for generations to come.
