 FEATURED PARK
Acadia National Park, Maine
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." --William Shakespeare
Acadia: Six letters that roll off the tongue and conjure visions of granite shores and miles of rugged hiking trails--all within a day's drive of some of our nation's largest cities. But Acadia National Park didn't don its name until 1929.
The first land to be set aside here was called Sieur de Monts National Monument (after the Lieutenant Governor of New France around the turn of the 17th century). The governor's navigator, Samuel Champlain, noted the area in his journal as the "island of barren mountains"--or in French, "isles des monts desert." Today, Acadia National Park shares Mount Desert Island with four harbor communities.
Cadillac Mountain, the crown jewel of Acadia and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast, is named for yet another French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac--who went on to found Detroit, Michigan, hence the all-American Cadillac automobile.
And, in 1919 Acadia was the first national park established east of the Mississippi, but it was called Lafayette National Park at the time. Yes, French again, but this time a nod to both a Revolutionary War hero and a contemporary World War I ally.
The name Acadia most likely comes from Giovanni Verrazano, an Italian explorer who visited the East Coast in 1524. The coastline reminded him of an area in Greece called Arcadia. But Verrazano is said to have intended the name for the area between present-day New Jersey and North Carolina. It was map makers who mistakenly placed that title between present-day Philadelphia and Montreal--and voíla, 500 years later, Acadia National Park.
Today the park protects more than 47,000 acres and hosts nearly 3 million visitors every year. Recently, NPCA helped Acadia receive much-needed funding for park road repairs. NPCA is also working closely with the park and Friends of Acadia to prevent inappropriate development on land within and adjacent to the park.
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PARKS IN THE NEWS
Oil Spill in the Gulf
 As oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, NPCA is very concerned about the devastating effects this environmental disaster will have on our national parks and wildlife along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard. From Gulf Islands National Seashore to Everglades National Park and other national park sites along the Gulf Coast, our natural environment and cultural treasures are at risk. Not only will this tragedy affect our coastal wetlands and the wildlife that inhabit them, it will also have detrimental effects on the communities that depend on these lands and waters to support fisheries and tourism-based economies that sustain them.
Thankfully, the National Park Service (NPS) is at the forefront of the recovery efforts. At coastal parks, NPS staff are currently evaluating the habitat and wildlife that could be affected by the oil spill. Click here for more information on how NPS is responding to the spill. As the spill's impacts continue to unfold, please visit www.npca.org/oilspill for the latest news and tips on how you can help make a difference in the face of this environmental disaster.
OUR LATEST CAMPAIGN
Protecting Hallowed Ground at Gettysburg
 Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania is one of America's most significant historical treasures. In fact, the echoes of history extend well beyond the park's boundaries. The three-day battle took place in and around the town of Gettysburg as well as on the land that's now protected as a national park, making the entire area a reminder of a time of valor, bloodshed, tragedy, and, ultimately, hope for what our nation could become.
Unfortunately, the sacred nature of this place is at risk once again from a proposed gambling casino that would be built within a mile of the park. In 2006, NPCA and our allies successfully fought and stopped a similar proposal. In 2010, our position remains unchanged: We simply cannot risk inappropriate development near this hallowed site.
Join us and take action by writing the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Let them know that you oppose this latest proposal on Gettysburg's hallowed ground.
Together we can ensure that park visitors experience the historical character that defines Gettysburg for generations to come. Take Action Today
TRAVEL WITH NPCA
Isle Royale Wilderness Sojourn
July 31-August 7, 2010
If you were enchanted by "Its Brightest Jewel," a feature article that ran in the Winter 2010 issue of National Parks magazine, then this trip is for you.
You'll begin your trip in Duluth, Minnesota, with a scenic drive along the rugged north shore of Lake Superior into the North Woods. Next, you'll explore the 18th century fur-trading traditions at Grand Portage National Monument. Then you'll set off for a four-day adventure on Isle Royale and its surrounding waters. You'll learn the secrets of this remote park from wildlife ecologists with the Isle Royale Institute, which works directly on the wolf/moose research project. This summer's first departure is sold-out, but NPCA has added a second departure for those of you still interested.
For more information or to reserve your space, call us at 800.628.7275, e-mail us at travel@npca.org, or learn more online.
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