My new hero

I am so impressed with the intuition and commitment to preserving the beauty of our country through the National Parks.  And to learn that several of the parks I really enjoy (Acadia, Grand Teton, etc) are because of the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. impresses me even more.

While working as a tour guide in Acadia National Park, I was first introduced to both the National Park system and Mr. Rockefeller's involvement in acquiring and then donating the land to the U.S. Government.  His commitment to designing the Carriage Roads, allowing non-motorized transit throughout Mount Desert Island was a major undertaking in my mind.  This year we're visiting Grand Teton and parts of Yellowstone which are also preserved for all as National Parks because of the philanthropy of Mr. Rockefeller.

Knowing how easy it is for us to get around nowadays and to think of the journey people took back in the 1920's to see some of these sites, and then for people such as Mr. Rockefeller to grasp the preservation concept even in that day and time, makes him a hero in my mind.

Images are from Acadia National Park: Porcupine Islands as seen from atop Cadillac Mountain; sunrise over Frenchmen's Bay; Carriage Road; one of several carriage road bridges

Images from Grand Teton National Park: Grand Teton from Oxbow; Bison grazing near Grand Teton, Musk Thistle; information board comparing Glacier fields today and 40 years ago