The National Park Service in Our Area

While the popular images of the National Park Service (NPS) often focus on the spectacular scenic sites in the American West or nationally significant historic sites in the eastern U.S., the NPS has a meaningful presence in Illinois and its surrounding states. It includes National Monuments, National Trails, National Heritage Areas, National Historic Landmarks (88 in Illinois), and sites on the National Register of Historic Places (almost 2,000 in Illinois). Each of those places contributes to the understanding of our region’s cultural history in tangible, visible forms in the cultural landscape. As such, they provide an additional way to learn history; they can make “history come alive.” As significant as these sites are, some remain less known and underappreciated.

The first part of the presentation will cover all the history-related National Monuments, National Heritage Areas and some National Historic Landmarks which have regional significance. The second part will focus on some key National Historic Landmarks and National Register of Historic Places in the Quad City area. Dr. Moline hopes to highlight some of those sites that do not receive much attention by local residents, even when they have gone through the nomination and selection process.

Dr. Moline’s goal is for listeners to come away with a greater appreciation of the National Park Service and the feeling that our cultural history is literally right before our eyes—we can experience it in person!