The National Parks have famously been called “America’s Best Idea.” The 400+ parks, preserves, historic sites and other areas in the National Park System are a source of national pride, home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, a place for researchers to study and discover—and above all, destinations for explorers and adventurers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
This week (April 16-24) marks National Park Week, and we thought we’d do our part in celebrating the occasion by helping you get one step closer to visiting these amazing places. With
Street View in Google Maps and the
Cultural Institute, you can park hop your way through 50 states, from sea to shining sea.
Start at the southern tip of Florida with the
Everglades—the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. and a UNESCO heritage site. Go deep inside the longest known cave system in the world at
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, or take in the sun and the scene at
Fire Island National Seashore. On your way, wave to
Lady Liberty in New York.
Next stop: The homes of some of our U.S. presidents. Peek inside Truman’s
desk, or compare and contrast the Lincoln home’s refined
hall chairs with Mary Lincoln’s wooden
commode. Then take a trip to see battle sites and memorials including
Gettysburg and
Valley Forge National Historic Sites.
Tour locations and objects from civil rights history, including the homes of activists
Frederick Douglass and
Maggie L. Walker. With Google Expeditions, you can see the
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in 360 degrees, then explore photos from its archives in the Cultural Institute.
Group of Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic SiteNow it’s time to hit the road and ride off into the west. There’s a little something for everyone this side of the Mississippi. Get some “me time” on some of
Glacier National Park’s 700 miles of trials. Gaze at the puffy white clouds above
Grand Teton National Park, you can see why they call this Big Sky country. And no visit to the parks is complete without
Yellowstone, which was first designated as a park “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” back in 1872.
Once you’ve seen
Old Faithful erupt, it’s time to marvel at the crystal colors of the
Petrified Forest and the amazing rock formations of
Natural Bridges Monument. Take in the Seussian world of
Joshua Tree, or the lunar landscape at
Death Valley.
For some shade, head for California’s forests.
Sequoia is home to the largest tree in the world, while the
Redwoods boast the tallest. Either way, even in Street View it’s hard not to relax as you look up at the sun filtering through the branches.
Compare the real thing with artistic interpretations from the National Park Service Collection on the Google Cultural InstituteClimb up
El Cap, then cool off in the mist at some of Yosemite’s famous
falls. Or head north for the icy blue waters of
Crater Lake in Oregon and the glacier-capped peaks of
Olympic National Park a stone’s throw from Seattle.
Last but not least, take a virtual ferry to
Alcatraz, home of the infamous federal penitentiary on the San Francisco Bay. There, you can see objects from the famous June 1962 escape from Alcatraz, including the
fake heads the escapees put in their beds to cover their absence. Luckily, you’re also free to go beyond the bars to learn about the first lighthouse on the West Coast and see
Street View of the island’s gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views. Welcome to the Rock.
Whether you visit in person or online, we hope you #FindYourPark this week!
Posted by Emily Wood, Managing Editor
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