National sites are a valuable, accessible resource for all
At more than 3 million square miles, the continental U.S. is a lot of ground to cover. Add Hawaii and Alaska, which at about 600,000 square miles is large than all but 18 sovereign nations itself, to that and the idea of getting a good look at the entire country becomes a truly daunting proposition.
When trying to get a comprehensive experience of the world’s fourth-largest nation it can pay to have a strategy. For the MacKrell family, that strategy has been a focus on designated national parks and sites, and there are far worse choices you could make.
Each summer, the family treks across the country to visit more than a dozen nationally designated areas in a single trip.
It’s a tradition that has left its mark on the youngest member of the MacKrell family, Wyatt. The Karns City Area senior’s experiences, stretching back to when he was just 6 months old, have led him to pursue a career as a national park ranger.
Even if trips like the MacKrells’ don’t lead someone to pursue a career, they still serve as a way to connect with and learn about our nation and how it formed.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, these sites can serve as a vital means of creating a personal link between the people of our nation and their history.
That connection is more important than ever. Recognizing the shared roots of our nation lets us see the communal tapestry we are all a part of and how it has helped shape us, from those who have spent their entire lives here to those just joining the great American experiment.
With hundreds of nationally recognized and managed parks, monuments, battlefields and other sites, there’s options within range of a short trip just about wherever someone might live in the country — and they’re largely free to visit.
As we approach our nation’s milestone birthday this July, we encourage everyone to take some time to visit some of these sites to learn a little about our shared history and, just maybe, a little about each other and ourselves along the way.
— JP
