Little Known Gems of the National Park System
Ladd and Gail Seekins, Presenters
July 2, 2013, 7:30 PM
San Bernardino County Museum,
2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands
You’ve probably visited many of our great National Parks; parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone. But you probably have not visited many of the National Park Service’s less well known units; places like Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Minuteman National Historic Site , Ft. Bowie National Historic Site, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Ladd and Gail’s slide show at the July 2 chapter meeting will introduce you to 20 of these less visited National Historic Sites and Monuments, all west of the Mississippi and all worth visiting. And you may not have even heard of most of them. The sites represent the archeology of ancient Indian cultures, more recent Indian history, the American Frontier and westward migration, important fossil sites, Cold War defense, and much more.
Ladd and Gail just completed their sixth major recent trip visiting units of the National Park System. Their goal is to visit all of the more than 400 of them. Now they’re more than half way to their goal. Most of the major parks were visited decades ago. Visits in recent years have been targeted at the minor sites. Only about five Park Service sites west of the Mississippi are left to visit.
The Seekins have presented many slide shows at past chapter meetings, covering their travels in the United States and abroad. The July program will not duplicate anything included in previous programs.
Ladd is a 35-year Chapter member, current Chapter Treasurer and Program Chair, past Chapter Chair and Outings Chair. He’s Delegate to the California Conservation Committee and California Population Issue Chair and past Sierra Club California Treasurer and California Executive Committee member. He is a wholesaler/distributor of cut flowers and florist supplies.
Gail is also a Chapter member for nearly 35 years and is a past outings leader. She is a retired public health nurse with San Bernardino County and is very active with the Girl Scouts, her church and her folk dance club.
