Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

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This is a bit of a blank spot in National Park history, despite being an incredibly active period. National Parks were essential to the United States war effort, and had to make some difficult decisions regarding staffing, budgets, resource allocation, and conservation. I think this is an incredibly interesting period in Park Service history to analyze. The role of National Parks during World War II, and the impact the war had on the System was far-reaching and incredibly consequential.

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Sources and Resources:
nps.gov/articles/npshomefrontbattle.htm
nps.gov/articles/wwiirecreationinparks.htm
home.nps.gov/places/10th-mountain-division-memorial.htm?utm_source=place&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=small
home.nps.gov/articles/mtrainierwwiitraining.htm
nps.gov/articles/office-of-strategic-services.htm
nps.gov/articles/forthuntww2.htm
nps.gov/articles/gettysburgww2.htm
nps.gov/articles/npssitesdefendwwiicoast.htm
nps.gov/articles/cabrilloww2.htm
nps.gov/articles/loggingolympicwwii.htm
nps.gov/subjects/worldwarii/healing.htm
nps.gov/articles/dena-wwii-recreation.htm
home.nps.gov/articles/yosemitehospitalwwii.htm
joplinglobe.com/news/lifestyles/andy-ostmeyer-national-parks-joined-fight-in-1941/article_8baf5558-15f0-5fd6-a64e-0cd87333db75.html
georgewright.org/321mcdonnell.pdf
https://online.ucpress.edu/tph/article-abstract/29/4/15/90035/World-War-II-Defending-Park-Values-and-Resources

Images and Music:
Storyblocks
National Park Service
Archive.org