"The National Parks: America's Best Idea" starts September 27

At Trailspace we usually encourage people to turn off the electronics and get outside. Here’s the exception. On Sunday, September 27, turn your TV on to PBS and watch Ken Burns’s documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

A decade in the making, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea explores a uniquely American and radical idea, that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. The series traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. Burns and producer/writer Dayton Duncan use archival photographs, first-person accounts, compelling characters, and analysis from more than 40 interviews to create a biography of the American landscape. Burns calls the cinematography the most stunning in Florentine Films’ history.

The 12-hour, six-part series runs nightly though October 2. Said Burns when he previewed the documentary at Outdoor Retailer in January, “I think it’s the best film we’ve done.”

Watch a short preview of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (2:26):

Or watch an extended video clip (26:48):

PBS has an extensive website devoted to The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. There you can learn more about the documentary, Burns, and Duncan, and watch additional video clips: www.pbs.org/nationalparks.

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Outdoor Retailer: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea  |  PBS site: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea