History/Culture

According to the South Dakota Office of Tourism, the erosion rate of Mount Rushmore National Memorial is estimated by geologists at 1 inch every 10,000 years. So, there isn't a concern that it will be destroyed by erosion! Experts believe it should be around for many years to come.

Hi Yvonne,

The contact address of Harriman State Park in New York States is:

Palisades Interstate Park Commission
Bear Mountain, NY 10911

Phone: (845) 786-2701

The park is located off the Palisades Parkway, 30 miles north of New York City.

I hope you have a fun trip to Harriman State Park! Please check back in with us at OhRanger.com to post pictures and comments about your trip!

Washington takes its name from our first president, George Washington. "Columbia" in "District of Columbia" stands for Christopher Columbus.

Washington, D.C. is not a state, nor is it part of any state. It is a unique, "federal district" created specifically to be the seat of government.

 For more information visit Washington, D.C.'s official tourism website.

The Cleveland National Forest is approximately one hour's drive from the coastal sections of San Diego. An Adventure [parking] Pass is $30 per year and $5 daily (which you won't need if you're parking at a campsite).  Campgrounds in the forest range from $12 to $20 per night. For more information on all the amenities, check out the USDA National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/ or call their onsite rangers at 885-673-6180.  

After you go, we hope you'll share your experience with everyone at OhRanger.com. Please also check back to the site to ask more questions and support other park-lovers by answering their questions. Have fun!

Did you know that Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah might become our next national park?

Get the whole story here:

http://www.ohranger.com/cedar-breaks/news/2009/cedar-breaks-america%E2%80%99s-next-national-park

According to the National Park Service, the elements of the emblem symbolize the major facets of the national park system. The Sequoia tree and bison represent vegetation and wildlife, the mountains and water represent the scenic and recreational values, and the arrowheads represents historical and archeological values. Visit http://www.nps.gov/npnh/parknews/arrowheadhistory.htm for more information. 

National Park: These are generally large natural places having a wide variety of attributes, at times including significant historic assets. Hunting, mining and consumptive activities are not authorized.

National Recreation Area: Twelve NRAs in the system are centered on large reservoirs and emphasize water-based recreation. Five other NRAs are located near major population centers. Such urban parks combine scarce open spaces with the preservation of significant historic resources and important natural areas in locations that can provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of people.

Our 18 National Recreation Areas include:
 
1. Amistad, Texas
2. Bighorn Canyon, Montana-Wyoming
3. Boston Harbor Islands, Massachusetts
4. Chattahoochee River, Georgia
5. Chickasaw, Oklahoma
6. Curecanti, Colorado
7. Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania-New Jersey
8. Gateway, New York-New Jersey
9. Gauley River, West Virginia
10. Glen Canyon, Arizona-Utah
11. Golden Gate, California
12. Lake Chelan, Washington
13. Lake Mead, Nevada-Arizona
14. Lake Meredith, Texas
15. Lake Roosevelt (formerly Coulee Dam), Washington
16. Ross Lake, Washington
17. Santa Monica Mountains, California
18. *Whiskeytown Unit, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity, California
 
*Administered under cooperative agreements with other Federal agencies; remaining units managed by Forest Service.

Many of the place names in Shenandoah National Park are so old that no one knows how they came about. And while no one is sure exactly how Hawksbill Mountain got its name, a park ranger we spoke with told us that the rocky peak resembles a hawk’s bill.
Here’s a great picture of the mountain, which, at 4,050 feet, is the highest peak in the park: http://www.mrbig.com/cpg/displayimage.php?album=46&pos=9. To see the mountain and decide for yourself, get the best view from Crescent Rock Overlook, at mile marker 44.4, on Skyline Drive.