In case you missed it the 1st time: America's Best Idea

In case you missed it the 1st time: America's Best Idea

Thursday, January 14, 2010

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The National Park Service announced this morning that the Ken Burns’ series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” will return for an encore broadcast on PBS this month, with the first episode airing on January 27th. It will then appear on consecutive Wednesdays through March 3rd.

The series, which premiered this past September, was the second most-watched series on PBS over the last decade. It reached a total audience of 33.4 million viewers. The most-watched series was “The War,” also produced by Burns, which attracted a total audience of 37.8 million viewers.

“The National Parks” had a huge online presence as well. Its web site was the most visited program page on PBS.org during the week of broadcast and had 544,000 unique visitors between September 1st and October 31st, with 2.5 million page views in the same period. The program’s Facebook fan page boasted more than 50,000 fans by the time of the broadcast. There were more than 185,000 streams of the episodes during the two weeks they were available, making it the most-watched program on the PBS Video Portal during the week of broadcast, with viewers watching on average at least 55 minutes of the full episodes online. In comparison, the average online viewer watches only six minutes per video of content on Hulu.

Since its release on October 6, the series’ DVD set has been a best-seller at many national retailers. “The National Parks” also launched PBS’ first general-audience iPhone application, which highlighted the series, behind-the-scenes information and more.

The companion book, written by Dayton Duncan, introduced by Ken Burns and published by Alfred A. Knopf, Burns’ longtime publisher, spent seven weeks on The New York Times best-seller list.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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Amazon offering deep discounts on Burns' National Parks

Amazon offering deep discounts on Burns' National Parks

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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Earlier this fall, PBS aired Ken Burns' excellent documentary film, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Hopefully all of you got a chance to watch it.

The documentary is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. It was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of the most spectacular locales, including Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon as well as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

If you missed the film, or if would like to have your own copy of the DVD to watch at any time, Amazon is now offering both the DVD and the companion book at some pretty deep discounts.



The DVD Box Set contains six discs with a total of 720 minutes of run time. Amazon is selling the DVD set for just $79.99. That's a 20% mark-off from the original price of $99.99. This item also ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Please click here for more product information.





The National Parks film companion book, at 432 pages, goes into much more depth about the creation of the national park system. Additionally, you'll find hundreds of stunning photos (historic and contemporary) of the people and landscapes from our national parks. Amazon is selling the companion book for only $29.25. That's a 42% discount off the original price of $50.00. This item also ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Please click here for more information about the book.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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Ken Burns' National Parks: Short Review

Ken Burns' National Parks: Short Review

Saturday, October 3, 2009

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First off, let me say that I've thoroughly enjoyed National Parks: America's Best Idea. Prior to this week's broadcast, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I assumed the film would be a contemporary overview and an expose of stunning photography from the national parks. However, the film focused much more on the historical development of the national parks and park system itself. As a history buff, I'm glad Mr. Burns decided to go in this direction.

Throughout the week I certainly learned a lot. For example, I didn't realize the immense role that Horace Albright played in the formation of the modern National Park Service, as well as the acquisition of new parks during his tenure.

I also thought Mr. Burns did a fairly decent job with his overview of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Thomas Moran: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Having said all that, I do have a couple of nitpicking criticisms.

1) I thought Burns spent a disproportionate amount of time on Yosemite. I agree that Yosemite is stunningly beautiful and probably deserves more time than the average park, but it came at the cost of glossing over other major parks, namely Olympic, Glacier and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Burns favoritism for Yosemite reminded me of the way he overwhelmingly favored the New York Yankees in his otherwise excellent Baseball film. As a Cincinnati Reds fan it was just a little too much!

2) One other criticism, albeit small, is that I wish that PBS didn't have to run two-hour broadcasts of the film on six consecutive days. Towards the end of the week it started to feel like I was taking part in a marathon. I wish they would stagger programs like this across two or three weeks. Maybe do four three-hour segments over the course of two weeks, with a five minute intermission at the half-way point on each night.

Despite these, I do think that the film will result in a fairly major spike in national parks visitation next year. I'm certainly even more inspired now to visit many of the parks that have been on my list for some time.

What do you guys think? Did you like the film? Did you learn anything compelling? Do you think the Smokies were treated fairly?

If you're wishing to add to the film experience, below is the companion book (42% off) and the DVD (30% off) from Amazon:













Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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National Parks: America's Best Idea Trivia Contest

National Parks: America's Best Idea Trivia Contest

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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I just got an email from the National Park Foundation stating that they are holding a Trivia Contest after each episode of the Ken Burns film, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

Each night after watching a new episode you'll have a chance to answer a trivia question. If you answer correctly, your name will be entered into a daily prize drawing. You can enter after each night for multiple chances to win.

Click here for the link to the contest.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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General Grant National Park

General Grant National Park

Monday, September 28, 2009

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So I'm watching the Ken Burns film last night on the national parks, and the narrator makes mention of General Grant National Park being added to the national park system in 1890 as the 4th national park. This piqued my interest because I had never heard of it before.

Purely out of curiosity, I did a quick Google search which showed that the park was incorporated into the larger Kings Canyon National Park, which was established in 1940.

The area that was once known as General Grant National Park is now known as Grant Grove. It's a sequoia grove that includes the General Grant tree, the second largest tree in the world:

Another story that caught my attention last night was that of Truman Everts, a member of the Washburn-Langford-Doane expedition of 1870 that set out to confirm or expose the fantastic stories of the Yellowstone region. Everts became lost for 37 days before re-emerging on the north end of what today is the park boundary, weighing only 50 pounds! You can read about Everts' incredible ordeal from his first-hand account that was published in the November, 1871 edition of Scribner's Monthly by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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PBS Program Alert: Ken Burns Nat' Parks on 9/27

PBS Program Alert: Ken Burns Nat' Parks on 9/27

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

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Ken Burns upcoming film, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, will begin airing on PBS on September 27.

The 12-hour, six-part documentary series, is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone.

The documentary was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales, including Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon as well as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

If you can't wait another couple weeks, or just want to see some video of beautiful scenery, check out this extended preview from the film:



If you want more information, or check out additional preview film, check out the PBS website.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Ken Burns film to be previewed in Asheville

Ken Burns film to be previewed in Asheville

Monday, May 18, 2009

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Friends of the Smokies is sponsoring another preview screening of the upcoming Ken Burns PBS documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea".

The special screening will be held 7:30-9 p.m. June 3 at the Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville.

Although the price of admission is $10, ticket sales have been strong, said Steve Volstad, director of communications for UNC-TV, which is hosting the event.

The runtime for the screening is about 40 minutes. Afterwards, series co-producer Dayton Duncan will lead a discussion.

The full 6-part series will air on PBS in September. The series focuses largely on the people who fought to create the parks, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For more information on the Asheville screening, please click here.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the film will also be previewed at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville on June 1. For more information on this screening, please click here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Are Americans Losing Interest in our National Parks?

Are Americans Losing Interest in our National Parks?

Friday, August 1, 2008

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Well, according to some statistics, the answer is yes. Several statistics showing declining visitation for the Park system as a whole since peaking in 1987. Not only are people visiting less often, but they’re also visiting for a shorter amount of time and they’re camping less.

Furthermore, Americans are spending less time on outdoor related activities in general.

Although many explanations have been put forth, such as increased time watching TV, playing video games or surfing the internet, the article states that the biggest reason Americans aren’t visiting our National Parks is because they’re flocking to big cities for their vacations now. Instead of Yellowstone or Yosemite, families are now opting to visit New York or Las Vegas.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, visitation in the Smoky Mountains has held steady over the last 8 years. Yes, the Park had more than 10 million visitors in 1999 and 2000, but if you look at the long-term picture (see graph below - visitation statistics are from 1959 through 2007), visitation in the Smokies has slowly trended upwards.


Looking at the National Park System as a whole, should falling interest in our National Parks be cause for alarm for those of us that love them? The thinking goes that if we as a nation no longer support the Parks, we may no longer want to pay for them.

Maybe Ken Burns’ new documentary series will spark a renewed love affair with our Parks.

Are you at all concerned about these trends? Is there anything that we as a nation should do?

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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PBS to Air Ken Burns's 'The National Parks: America’s Best Idea'

PBS to Air Ken Burns's 'The National Parks: America’s Best Idea'

Monday, July 14, 2008

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PBS has just announced that in the fall of 2009 it will air a new Ken Burns documentary series: 'The National Parks: Americas Best Idea'. This will be a 12-hour, six-part documentary series, directed by Ken Burns and co-produced by his longtime colleague, Dayton Duncan. According to the release, the series is "the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone."

The film combines stunning cinematography of the beauty and majesty of our national parks with the rich history of their creation. As an example, the film profiles George Masa, the Japanese immigrant whose photographs of the Great Smoky Mountains served in the fight to protect this region in the southern Appalachians as a national park.

As with most of the other films produced by Ken Burns, there will be an interactive web site, a companion book, as well as a DVD box set.

If this series is anything like some of his previous works, such as the documentaries about baseball, Lewis and Clark, or Thomas Jefferson, then we should be expecting another outstanding program next fall.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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