Changing the Landscape: National Parks

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In the largest public works projects ever devised three million young men between the ages of 18-25 found work in 4,5000 Civilian Conservation Corps Camps during the Great Depression.

The impact of the CCC effort to protect our national resources is undeniable, and no where is the CCC legacy more visible than in state and national parks where roads, bridges, shelters, and trails built by CCC workers continue to provide enjoyment for millions of visitors each year.

Today advancing age is thinning the ranks of "Roosevelt's Tree Army." The window of opportunity is closing on our chance to document and reward their unique and defining contribution to our state and our country's history.

Almost seven years ago I submitted a grant proposal to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities to document the efforts of the CCC in my state, Virginia by collecting oral history videos from CCC veterans before it was too late.

My written proposal with its small budget took months to put together and had the support of the Princess Anne Historical Society, The Library of Virginia, several prominent Virginia historians, a CCC national legacy organization, and most importantly the Tidewater Area Chapter of CCC Chapter 127 CCC. The Virginia Foundation turned me down in a two sentence rejection letter.

Life goes on and I turned my attention to documentary projects for National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, and others. Then in September I decided to revisit this missed opportunity. I traveled across the country to Mt. Rainier National Park where my Dad was in the CCCs in 1938. For me it was an epic journey into the past and a wake up call that the project could wait no longer.

Now I'm back with lots of pictures, questions, and a smoldering desire to pick up where I left off to document the lives of the men of the CCC. And guess what? I don't need help from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

In 2010 I have the power of Kickstarter, Crowdsource, Blogger, Wordpress, Twitter, Facebook, and you.

Changing the Landscape

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Mt Rainier National Park CCC's 1930's