The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Series Overview
Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales – from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska - “The National Parks: America's Best Idea” is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background – rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people 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.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 6 Episodes
120 min per episode
2009 – 2009
Premiered: Sun, Sep 27, 2009
Creative Production Team
Latest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 6: “The Morning of Creation (1946 – 1980)”
Following World War II, the parks are overwhelmed as visitation reaches 62 million people a year. A new billion-dollar campaign – Mission 66 – is created to build facilities and infrastructure that can accommodate the flood of visitors. A biologist named Adolph Murie introduces the revolutionary notion that predatory animals, which are still hunted, deserve the same protection as other wildlife. In Florida, Lancelot Jones, the grandson of a slave, refuses to sell to developers his family's property on a string of unspoiled islands in Biscayne Bay and instead sells it to the federal government to be protected as a national monument. In the late 1970s, President Jimmy Carter creates an uproar in Alaska when he sets aside 56 million acres of land for preservation – the largest expansion of protected land in history. In 1995, wolves are re-established in Yellowstone, making the world's first national park a little more like what it once was.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Cast & Creators
Explore Star Directory →
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ken Burns
Dayton Duncan
Ken Burns, Julie A. Dunfey
Department Leadership Roster
Ken Burns
Director
Ken Burns
Producer
Julie A. Dunfey
Producer
Dayton Duncan
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
Shows Similar to The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Series sharing comparable tone, character dynamics, and narrative themes
8.3
1.0
7.0
8.6
7.0
7.1
6.4
6.7
9.3
7.7
9.2
9.5
8.6
8.3
7.0
10.0
More Series Like The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Shows sharing similar genres, audiences, and storylines.
Frequently Asked Questions About The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is The National Parks: America's Best Idea about?
Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales – from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska - “The National Parks: America's Best Idea” is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background – rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people 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.
How many seasons does The National Parks: America's Best Idea have?
The National Parks: America's Best Idea comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in The National Parks: America's Best Idea?
Key cast members in The National Parks: America's Best Idea include Adam Arkin, Philip Bosco, Peter Coyote, Amy Madigan, Tom Hanks.
Who created or directed The National Parks: America's Best Idea?
The National Parks: America's Best Idea was developed and directed by Ken Burns.