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. Now streaming.

The National Parks | Full Documentary Now Streaming

The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890)

In 1851, word spreads across the country of a beautiful area of California’s Yosemite Valley, attracting visitors who wish to exploit the land’s scenery for commercial gain and those who wish to keep it pristine. Among the latter is a Scottish-born wanderer named John Muir, for whom protecting the land becomes a spiritual calling.

Full Length 115m 41s

Full Length

The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890)

115m 41s

In 1851, word spreads across the country of a beautiful area of California’s Yosemite Valley, attracting visitors who wish

Full Length

The Last Refuge (1890-1915)

133m 24s

By the end of the 19th century, widespread industrialization has left many Americans worried about whether the country wil

Full Length

The Empire Of Grandeur (1915-1919)

112m 33s

In the early 20th century, America has a dozen national parks, but they are a haphazard patchwork of special places under

Full Length

Going Home (1920-1933)

116m 43s

While visiting the parks was once predominantly the domain of Americans wealthy enough to afford the high-priced train tou

Full Length

Great Nature (1933-1945)

115m 41s

To battle unemployment in the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the Civilian Conservation Corps, which spawn

Full Length

Morning of Creation (1946-1980)

115m 42s

Examine the proliferation of protected lands and the protection of predatory animals.

Preview

Official Trailer

30s

Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales, the film is a story of people

Preview

The National Parks: An Introduction

7m 18s

Introductory clip from THE NATIONAL PARKS: America's Best Idea, a film by Ken Burns.

Full Length

National Park Experience | Canyon Song

13m 31s

A Navajo family balances modern life with the traditional "Navajo Way," teaching their children their language, culture, a

Clip

Ranger Baker

34s

Ranger Gerard Baker talks about the parks being real America.

Clip

Roosevelt and The Grand Canyon

3m 11s

President Theodore Roosevelt travels to the Grand Canyon.

Clip

Grand Canyon, Floating the River

1m 36s

Writer Ruth Kirk muses on the the awe-inspiring nature of the Grand Canyon, and the effect that it has on a person who cho

Clip

The Creation of Yosemite National Park

11m 44s

Explore the early days of Yosemite National Park, and the experiences of President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir in Yos

Clip

Mr. President Goes to Yellowstone

11m 48s

In celebration of Yellowstone's anniversary in 2010, The White House released a short film about the First Family's trip t

Clip

Grand Tetons

1m 44s

Terry Tempest Williams talks about what the Grand Tetons mean to her.

Clip

The Park Idea

2m 23s

Over a montage of images of the country's most spectacular landscapes, writer Dayton Duncan talks about the notion that is

Clip

George Melendez Wright

3m 50s

George Melendez Wright changed how the Park Service preserved wildlife.

Clip

For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People

48s

At the entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a stone arch inscribed with the words: "For the Benefit and enjoyment of t

Clip

The Work of the Civilian Conservation Corp

2m 10s

The Civilian Conservation Corp worked on National Parks Service projects under FDR.

Clip

New Land

1m 58s

Dayton Duncan talks about seeing the lava flow in Hawaii.

Clip

Great Nature

4m 50s

Obata discusses Nature and it's impact on his art.

About the Film

The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a six-episode series produced by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan and written by Dayton Duncan. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales – from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background – rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

Premiered on PBS: September 27, 2009