More than half a century ago – during the last year of Mission ‘66! – my parents loaded us kids into the station wagon and drove cross country. We visited about a dozen national parks and monuments, from Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon to Shiloh Battlefield. The one I remember most clearly, though, was Yosemite. The giant sequoia groves made an overwhelming impression on my six-year-old brain, including the Wawona Tunnel Tree, which was still standing back then. After the trip, I was so excited about the experience that I started reading everything I could find on national parks, and 52 years later that hasn’t stopped.
Sincerely,
Yosemite National Park
With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.
State(s): California
Established: 1890
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