National Parks Traveler

Bob Janiskee

Biography

While serving 33 years on the faculty of the University of South Carolina, I taught a national parks course, helped get Congaree National Park established, and worked as a V.I.P in that park. Now retired as Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Geography, I want to continue visiting parks, thinking about parks, and writing about parks until I assume room temperature. To help keep me focused and busy I teach “America’s National Parks” and several other courses through the University’s Independent Learning division.

Bob's Most Recent Comments (view all)

7/03/2008 9:21 am - What do People Take Home from a Visit to Gettysburg National Military Park? : I can't be sure, Jim, but I strongly suspect that the trees you saw were some of those slated for clearing needed to restore the sightlines of the July 1863 battlefield. The Park Service planned to remove trees (some? all?) from nearly 600 acres (that's almost one square mile) in ...
7/03/2008 7:01 am - National Park History: Renaming National Parks Can Show Respect for Native Cultures : Darn it, MRC. I TOLD you I didn't want to know! :-)
7/03/2008 4:22 am - National Park History: Renaming National Parks Can Show Respect for Native Cultures : Gotta love that U.S. Board of Geographic Names. They do a great job of vetting place name changes. My favorite Board decision was the renaming of a western place called Whorehouse Flats, which is now called Naughty Lady Meadow. At least that's the story as it was told to me. ...
7/03/2008 2:59 am - National Park History: Renaming National Parks Can Show Respect for Native Cultures : You make an interesting point, MCR, but at the risk of blowing a fuse on the weaselspeak-o-meter I will point out that Denali is not celebrating a birthday this month like those two other parks are. ;-) Another thing, MCR. Can you tell me why Congress, in its infinite wisdom, ...
7/03/2008 1:10 am - Senators Willing to Legislate Clean Air Over National Parks if EPA Does Protect Airsheds : Pigeon Forge, TN, is a monument to bad taste. Please answer me this: If there is a God, why did He let Pigeon Forge happen?
7/02/2008 5:05 pm - National Park System Quiz 9: The American Revolution : Why, of course I can name them. And their spouses and children and pets, too. Don't want to spoil a good quiz item, though, so I'm not going to share that information here.
7/02/2008 11:30 am - National Park System Quiz 9: The American Revolution : Rangertoo, your comments highlight at least two quite troubling issues. One is the need to quit perpetuating historic myth. Here at Traveler we want to avoid passing along bad information, so we really appreciate it when you help us sort fact from myth. I really mean that. Another problem is ...
7/02/2008 7:49 am - National Park System Quiz 9: The American Revolution : Rangertoo: I’m not sure I understand your first point. Guess I’m feeling a little dense today. (Maybe I’ve caught the National Geographic best list disease?) I thought I had my bases covered when I said “…signed in 1776” without specifying day and month. Or were you referring to something else? ...
6/30/2008 6:01 am - “10 Best National Parks”? National Geographic, You Have Got to be Kidding! : Mookie, if even half of what you say about National Geographic operations is true (and I have no reason to doubt it), we should be including National Geographic in our nightly prayers. That noble institution has gotten itself into a deep hole and is still furiously digging.
6/30/2008 3:39 am - Park History: Would There Have Been a Mesa Verde National Park Without Virginia McClurg? : The initial version of this article contained a serious mistake, which has been corrected. I stated that Mesa Verde National Park was proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt using powers granted by the Antiquities Act, whereas the park was actually created via Congressional legislation signed into law by President Roosevelt. That's ...

Bob's Most Recent Articles (view all)

National Park Service May Reopen the Statue’s Crown at Statue of Liberty National Monument

Public access to the observation deck in the Statue of Liberty’s crown has been banned since September 11, 2001, for safety and security reasons. In response to loud protests, Congress has ordered a study to determine if crown access can be made safe.

What do People Take Home from a Visit to Gettysburg National Military Park?

The Battle of Gettysburg, a famously important Union victory, ended 145 years ago on July 3rd. We can more clearly appreciate what happened at Gettysburg by visiting Gettysburg National Military Park and trying to understand the battle as a human experience, not just a mammoth clash of arms.

Florine and Hirayama Regain the Nose Route Speed-Climb Record at Yosemite National Park

Two fiercely competitive speed-climbers have regained the Nose Route record the Huber brothers wrested from them on El Capitan last October. The new record for the Nose, a big-wall climb that normally takes three or more days to complete, is two hours, 43 minutes, and 33 seconds. While admirers rave, critics grumble.

National Park History: Renaming National Parks Can Show Respect for Native Cultures

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and Pu'uhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park both celebrate birthdays in July. These two parks were renamed for cultural-political reasons, underscoring the importance of labels and the need to respect native peoples.

National Park System Quiz 9: The American Revolution

With the July Fourth celebration in the offing, we naturally turn our thoughts to national parks commemorating events and people associated with the struggle for independence. This week’s quiz accordingly focuses on the American Revolution. Answers are at the end. No peeking, please.

Native Hawaiians Don’t Want a Giant Telescope on Their Sacred Mountaintop at Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park celebrates its 92nd birthday on July 1. Meanwhile, angry Hawaiian Natives continue their struggle to prevent the construction of a giant telescope atop their sacred mountain. The Park Service doesn’t like the project either.

Park History: Would There Have Been a Mesa Verde National Park Without Virginia McClurg?

Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park celebrates its 102nd birthday on June 29. Mesa Verde's 4,000+ archaeological sites document a culture that flourished for centuries before the last generation abruptly and mysteriously abandoned its ancestral home. Did you know there might not have been a Mesa Verde National Park at all if it hadn’t been for Virginia McClurg?

“10 Best National Parks”? National Geographic, You Have Got to be Kidding!

National Geographic might be considered a gold standard authority on national parks. Why, then, is a hilariously flawed “10 Best National Parks” list included in a recently published National Geographic book? Is NG testing us to see if we’re paying attention?

National Park History: Prince William Forest Park Was a Top Secret Spy Training School

Virginia’s Prince William Forest Park became a national park in 1940 and acquired its present name 60 years ago this month. Many people know that the park offers solitude, scenery, and recreation. Most don’t know it was a top secret training school for OSS spies during World War II.

Eight of California’s 800+ Wildfires Started in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Electrical storms of remarkable ferocity surged in from the Pacific this past weekend and started more than 800 wildfires in California. At least eight fires were started in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in Shasta County. Four fires still burning Wednesday are uncontained and expected to merge.