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The National Parks: America's Best Idea

  • 2009-2009
  • 1 season
  • PBS
  • Documentary
  • TV-G

Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales, the film is a story of people from every conceivable background—rich and poor, soldiers and scientists, natives and newcomers—who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

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Episode 1

The Scripture of Nature

Sun, Sep 27, 2009 114 mins

In 1851, word spreads across the country of a beautiful area of California's Yosemite Valley, attracting visitors who wish to exploit the land's scenery for commercial gain and those who wish to keep it pristine. Among the latter is a Scottish-born wanderer named John Muir, for whom protecting the land becomes a spiritual calling. In 1864, Congress passes an act that protects Yosemite from commercial development for "public use, resort and recreation" - the first time in world history that any government has put forth this idea - and hands control of the land to California. Meanwhile, a "wonderland" in the northwest corner of the Wyoming territory attracts visitors to its bizarre landscape of geysers, mud pots and sulfur pits. In 1872, Congress passes an act to protect this land as well. Since it is located in a territory, rather than a state, it becomes America's first national park: Yellowstone.

1:22The National Parks: America's Best Idea (Trailer 1)

  • 2010 - WGA Award (TV) - Documentary - Other Than Current Events - Nominated
  • 2010 - C.A.S. Award - Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television - Non-Fiction, Variety or Music - Series or Specials - Nominated
  • 2010 - Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming - Nominated
  • 2010 - Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Nonfiction Series - Winner

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