Existing comment:
Tourism
From the beginning, Congress intended the national parks to be open to everyone -- unlike the private hunting grounds and exclusive gardens for aristocrats found in Europe. At first, access was by foot, stagecoach and railroad, limiting tourism to the adventurous. The booming economy of the Roaring Twenties, however, brought better roads and affordable cars with middle-class tourists behind the wheel. National parks and historic sites contribute to local economies, while tourism in turn can contribute to the parks' long-term sustainability. |