Research and Education
in the National Parks

National Park Service Research and Education in the National Parks

PART I
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE NATIONAL PARKS

MESA VERDE

Unique among national-park buildings is the Mesa Verde archeological museum constructed in 1924 along the lines of pueblo architecture. (See fig. 26.) The original structure was made possible by the generous donations of Mrs. Stella M. Leviston, of San Francisco, and John D. Rockefeller, jr. Additional units have been added in recent years, and the installations have been augmented with archeological material of prime importance. The quality and scope of the exhibits make this little museum one of the most valuable in the United States in its specialized field.

FIGURE 26.—The archeological museum at Mesa Verde National Park. Many fine relics of pueblo culture are to be found in the exhibit rooms. The accumulation of valuable material taken from the cliff dwellings makes this little museum one of the finest of its kind in the country.

MOUNT RAINIER

The small museum at Longmire Springs in Mount Rainier National Park, although temporary in character, has materially contributed to the educational program. New displays have been prepared and several donations from the University of Washington have added to the exhibit collection.

In the community building at Paradise a temporary museum has been established. Hotel guests and campers visit the exhibits which portray the park features.

SEQUOIA

Extensive collections dealing with the natural-history features of Sequoia National Park are exhibited in the small museum at Giant Forest. Indian baskets given to the park by the late Jesse B. Agnew, of Visalia, Calif., constitute one of the principal attractions in the exhibit rooms. Due to limited space and the fire hazard in the temporary museum building, many exhibits can not be displayed.

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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 16 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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