On the first national park

Recently Dave Dahlen, Head of Training for the US National Parks Service, gave me a copy of Richard Sellars' 1997 book, Preserving Nature in the National Parks – a History published by Yale University Press. Both he and Mike Watson (Harpers Ferry Interpretive Centre, USPS) recommended it as the most recent and credible history of the park movement in the USA. I could have done with this book before preparing the text for National Parks of Australia (see Reviews, October NPJ), for it is now clear that neither Yellowstone nor Royal national parks were first in law.

The honour goes to a thousand acre area around Fort Mackinac on Lake Huron shores in 1875. However, because the ‘feds’ were represented there by the army, in 1895 the State of Michigan was persuaded to take it over as a State Park, ending the career of the world’s first national park in law.

The status of second national park in law remains with The National Park, now Royal, proclaimed in 1879. Australia, however, cannot claim to be the initiator of the idea of national park. The idea probably had its roots in a number of cultures, notably Greece.

While the origin of the national park idea is usually credited to the myths relating to Yellowstone’s famous wilderness campfire and in the debates of Congress before its establishment in 1872 as a "public park or pleasuring-ground", both Yellowstone and Royal do have a similar politico-economic story. Sir John Robertson, the NSW mover, is said to have had Illawarra coal-mining interests protected by locking up coal country nearer to the Sydney market, through the establishment of a park. According to research by Richard Sellars, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company played a central role in both the Washburn-Doane and the Hayden expeditions to support locking up the vast area of magnificent Yellowstone volcanics from competitors as a park.

As Sellars puts it: "From the first, then, the national parks served corporate profit motives." Fortunately, however, the particular corporate motives were not those which would immediately impact seriously on the parks’ natural resources. So the Yellowstone Park Act could mark a truly historic step in nature conservation. The Act provided for the "preservation, from injury or spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition."

Sellars also looks into the stories surrounding the oft-quoted inspirational campfire: "the belief that the national park idea truly began around a wilderness campfire at Madison Junction (Yellowstone) evolved into a kind of creation myth ... " (p10) "In fact, the evidence is slim ... Whether or not it is rooted in historical fact, the story achieved legendary status." (p294)

In a world of economic rationalists, of objectivity, are we not losing a crucial human characteristic when we have no time for romance, for imagination, for the myth? Along with this very readable and exceedingly well documented history, I will also commend you spend time exercising inspiration, imagination and romance in Visions of a Wild America with writings by Muir, Aldo Leopold, Bob Marshall, Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey and Marjory Douglas (Kim Heacox, ed, 200p, Pub. National Geographic, 1996). Now that Abbey has claimed his rightful place among the great environmental philosophers, don’t miss The Serpents of Paradise - a Reader, a collection of his writings from childhood to his death a few years ago (John Macrae, ed, 400pp, Pub. Henry Holt, 1996).

John & Lyn Daly (eds)
Take a Walk Publications, pb, $16.95

NPA members John & Lyn Daly have been keen bushwalkers for many years and have combined their own experiences with those spent on NPA walks to produce this book, one of a series (see below). They have covered 16 walks within the Mountains, to suit either the beginner or the experienced bushwalker.

An introduction to the evolution of national parks gives the reader an appreciation as to how our parks were developed and who is responsible for maintaining and creating new parks. There is also a chapter on the history of NPA. A section dedicated to safety issues, camping, and what equipment to take is very informative. An historical overview of the Blue Mountains and its first inhabitants is interesting and sets the scene for those keen to visit the Mountains.

A map location of each walk is included, with a brief description of location, distance, time to complete walk and grade. The narrative which accompanies each walk makes interesting reading and provides snippets of historical information. Throughout the book advertising is included with useful information on where to stay and where to purchase equipment, along with contact details for outdoor adventure companies and the NPWS.

Since I am not an experienced bushwalker, I would certainly find this a useful guide to a walk in the Blue Mountains because of its clear directions. For the more experienced walker it would be helpful for routes not covered before.