Across the US in 1964
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, NE
Antietam National Battlefield, MD
Appalachian National Scenic Trail, WV
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, VA
Assateague Island National Seashore, MD
Badlands National Park, SD
Big Bend National Park, TX
Big Hole National Battlefield, MT
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, MT
Biscayne National Park, FL
Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Canaveral National Seashore, FL
Canyonlands National Park, UT
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD
Colorado National Monument, CO
Crater Lake National Park, OR
Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, ID
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, KY
Death Valley National Park, CA
Delaware National Scenic River, PA
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, PA
Devils Tower National Monument, WY
Dinosaur National Monument, CO
Edison National Historical Park, NJ
Everglades National Park, FL
Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, DC
Fort Laramie National Historic Site, WY
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, MD
George Washington Birthplace National Monument, VA
Gettysburg National Military Park, PA
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, AZ
Golden Spike National Historic Site, UT
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Grand Teton National Park, WY
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, CO
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, NY
Hot Springs National Park, AR
John Muir National Historic Site, CA
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, WA
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, OR
Lincoln Memorial, DC
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, MT
Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
Manassas National Battlefield Park, VA
Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, MN
Mojave National Preserve, CA
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD
National Mall, DC
National Mall & Memorial Parks, DC
Olympic National Park, WA
Padre Island National Seashore, TX
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, DC
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
Rainbow Bridge National Monument, AZ
Redwood National Park, CA
Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, TX
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, TX
Saratoga National Historical Park, NY
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, CA
Shenandoah National Park, VA
Shiloh National Military Park, TN
Statue Of Liberty National Monument, NY
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, DC
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, PA
Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, NY
Vicksburg National Military Park, MS
Washington Monument, DC
Wright Brothers National Memorial, NC
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Yosemite National Park, CA
Zion National Park, UT
Kevin Kirsch, Penfield, NY
In 1963 my father bought a travel trailer. It was the start of many adventures for my family. At first we visited may historical sights within a days drive from our New York home but on the following year we spent 5 week traveling cross country visiting everything from bull fights to caves. During that trip we stopped at every National park, national monument and historical site we could on the southern route heading West and along our northern route heading back home. We nearly flipped the whole rig over at the Grand Canyon. We saw a thunderstorm from above at that location. My mother and I swam the Merced river at Yosemite and watched when they used to build a fire at the top of the falls and pushed the burning logs over in the dark. At Yellowstone we fed the trout and caught some, sat and waited for old Faithful and collected various rocks as souveniors. At Sequoia we managed to collect some sugar pine cones (after being cloppered by one) and walked through a forest of giants. My brother fished the Snake while the rain drowned us out. But who cared, what a view.
We stopped at Carlsbad, to watch the bats and see the blind fish plus went to Mammoth cave. we saw the petrified forest and devils tower but did not see any aliens. Our car window was knocked out on the way to the Alamo and we blew out a head gasket in death valley. On the way up Pikes peak we nearly lost the rig while sliding on hail. We got so camp got set up and taken down in under 15 minutes so we could spend time exploring and witnessing the essence and majesty our country has reserved for us at up to 500 miles a day stopping at every roadside marker sign.
Our adventure was fantastic and the greatest gift any parent could give to their childern. In this day and age it would nearly be an impossible task in that most of us will never accrue the vacation time to manage such a trip. But maybe with some luck I can do this for my grand children.
During the trip we took over 400 slides of which I am currently digitizing. When finished each of my children and my brother's children will get a DVD with photos and naration so the gift my parents had given to us can continue for generations past them.
Family Vacations | 1960-1980
Submitted 12/24/2009, WETA
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