© jmd41280 via Flickr

Starting today, a collection of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island will be available free online. The histories were recorded by the National Park Service starting in the 1970s and, until now, were only available to those visiting the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

Thanks to Ancestry.com, the tapes are now part of the site’s United States Immigration Collection. Not only can you check out the Ellis Island Oral History – which is free from today to Monday – as well as 170 million records including lists of passengers who immigrated to America between 1820 and 1960, more than 7 million citizenship and naturalization records, border crossings and passport applications, and more.

©LipBomb via Flickr

For two men hiking in the Canadian Rockies, their trip was one they’ll never forget. They discovered the remains of William Holland, an American climber who vanished over two decades ago.

The men were hiking in Jasper National Park, Alberta and found Holland’s body fully preserved – entombed by glacial ice and still wearing his climbing gear, spiked boots, and rope tossed over his shoulder.

In April 1989, Holland, who was 38 at the time and living in Gorham, Maine, was climbing a frozen waterfall on Snow Dome Mountain when the snow he was standing on collapsed. Holland plummeted over 1,000 feet and due to hazardous weather conditions, was never found. The park reports that since 1970, the bodies of at least two other mountaineers who went missing in Jasper National Park have never been recovered.

The final video of the Hike the Smokies Challenge series has been posted on the Hike the Smokies Challenge page. This new video is about water safety in the park, including stream crossings and safety around our beautiful waterfalls. Check it out!

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the [...]

© Lauren Himiak

A new war has broken out on the fields of Gettysburg National Military Park. This time, a proposed casino – Mason Dixon Resort & Casino - is causing the fights.

It’s the second time in five years that Gettysburg has fought over a plan to build a casino and this one wants to be placed on a hotel and conference center site within a mile of the southern boundary of the park. Supporters say the casino will bring jobs, more tourists and tax relief to the area. But other worry a casino will cheapen the reputation that draws tourists to Gettysburg.

Casino principals, supporters and opponents will speak at a public meeting today with state regulators who are considering the license application to build the casino. So what do you think? Should a casino be built or will it tread on what Gettysburg is about? Share your responses!

© YouTube

The recent contest hosted by the National Park Foundation and Coca Cola where you can vote for your favorite park is showing some surprising results. So far, a little known state park is beating out other well-known state and national parks for the $100K top prize. Meet Bear Head Lake State Park in Minnesota.

The contest ends at the end of the month and so far, the park had racked up more than 1.48 million votes – a half-million more than the runner-up, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So what does this state park have: a bear named Lily and her cub, Hope, who became Internet sensations earlier this year.

The bears, being studied by staffers at the nearby North American Bear Center, were featured on a webcam that’s been visited millions of times.

© Wikimedia Commons

Yosemite National Park rangers raided a large marijuana cultivation site in El Portal this week, seizing 3,657 plants, as well as several pounds of processed marijuana worth an estimated $14.6 million.

The site was on land in both Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest though the area was remote enough that visitors to the park did not walk into it. Two men were working the cultivation site during the raid and were taken into custody.

“We want these growers to know that we will not tolerate this type of activity on public lands and we will continue to aggressively seek out and eradicate illegal marijuana growing operations,” Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher said in a statement.

© Wikimedia Commons

Today, you can celebrate your parks and wish a happy birthday to the National Park Service. I mean, turning 94 is kind of a big deal.

Known to park rangers as Founders Day, this anniversary reminds us that America did something unprecedented when it preserved millions of acres of wilderness for the enjoyment of all people. You may know that wilderness as Yellowstone National Park – the world’s first national park.

So, take a moment to celebrate the parks and think about how you can help preserve them for the future. Heck, you can even give a “birthday gift” (donation) to the National Park Foundation!

© pdxjeff

If you’ve always wanted to be a park ranger, your time is now! More than half the positions in the Northeast will be vacant in the next five years, in particular, urban parks, like the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York and Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia.

Over the summer, the National Park Service recruited students at urban colleges for summer internships that could lead to full-time work. Students at Temple University and at San Antonio College spent 12 weeks working in hopes to be chosen as one of 1,500 armed law enforcement rangers when they graduate.

But you have a chance right now! The NPS has 10 ranger slots open at Independence National Historical Park and 25 openings in the Northeast. Land your dream job now!

© pdxjeff

If you’ve always wanted to be a park ranger, your time is now! More than half the positions in the Northeast will be vacant in the next five years, in particular, urban parks, like the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York and Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia.

Over the summer, the National Park Service recruited students at urban colleges for summer internships that could lead to full-time work. Students at Temple University and at San Antonio College spent 12 weeks working in hopes to be chosen as one of 1,500 armed law enforcement rangers when they graduate.

But you have a chance right now! The NPS has 10 ranger slots open at Independence National Historical Park and 25 openings in the Northeast. Land your dream job now!

© Marshmallow via Flickr

A massive aerial search-and-rescue effort in Southwest Alaska continues today after a float plane and four men on board were reported missing Saturday. Three passengers work for Katmai National Park.

The plane left Swikshak Bay Saturday at about 2:45 p.m., heading to King Salmon. The flight usually takes less than an hour but the plane never arrived. On board were Park Service employees 26-year-old Mason McLeod and two brothers, 28-year-old Neal Spradlin and 20-year-old Seth Spradlin. The pilot is Branch River Air Services employee Marco Alletto, 47.

The U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska State Troopers and a few private air companies based in King Salmon are all searching for the missing plane.  There has been no radio transmissions from the plane.