Shaka Stories

[Transcript] For a small fee, the Jenny Wade House offers guided tours inside, and it's actually one of my favorite tours in Gettysburg. Let's jump right in to the summer of 1863. By June, the American Civil War was in its third year.  Up until then, Gettysburg hadn't really experienced the horrors of battle because the fighting had stayed in the southern states. But the townspeople...

[Transcript] Up next, we'll pass through Lahaina town. Now, Lahaina means cruel or merciless sun, which reflects the area's sunny climate and low rainfall. Before it became a popular tourist destination, this harbor town had a colorful and complex history. For hundreds of years, Lahaina was a small fishing village. Prior to the arrival of foreigners, it also served as the traditional res...

[Transcript] Alright folks, right now we're winding our way down Highway 49, also known as Looking Glass Road. It was named after the famous Nez Perce leader and battle strategist Looking Glass. Now, while I'm going to take us straight into the park, we are going to pass by a few overlooks on our way down.  Feel free to pause the audio if you decide to stop on your own to take in the The...

[Transcript] Sally Ann Jarrett, or just Sally to her friends, was one tough soldier, even though she was only two feet tall. Sally joined the Union's 11th Pennsylvania Infantry in May of 1861, while the men were training in Westchester, about two hours east of Gettysburg. Now, some stories say that this little puppy wandered out onto the training field, while others say she was given as a gif...

[Transcript] At the dawn of the 20th century, more and more folks were discovering the beauty and tranquility of South Florida and Biscayne Bay. By the roaring 20s, places like Miami and the Florida Keys were highly sought-after vacation destinations for the wealthy elite. And that was great news for the local economy. Tourists brought dollars and tourism dollars brought jobs and a thriving econom...

Welcome to Paul Revere Mall Now that you've made it to the mall, you can look up at that impressive statue of the man, the myth, the legend, Paul Revere. He's facing St. Stephen's Church across the road. But St. Stephen's wasn't around during his lifetime. However, if you're facing Revere, you'll notice there's another church behind him. That's the Old...

[Transcript] Now, do you remember the situation here in 1775? In April, the British occupied Boston. And after hearing what happened in Lexington and Concord, thousands of Patriot militiamen from all over New England made their way to Massachusetts. They were ready to lend a hand, and a musket, to whatever happened next. This newly formed militia circled around Boston, hoping a siege would force t...

[Transcript] Okay, now that we're back on the highway, let me share one last story and then I'll bid you farewell with some parting thoughts and a pretty fantastic song.  Now, like I said before, these white gypsum sand dunes cover about 275 square miles, and at that size and with that bright white color, the dunes are easily visible from space and that's a good thing because for as...

[Transcript] So, where were we? Ah yes, guano, also known as bat poop. During that time, nitrate-rich guano was one of the best fertilizers you could find. Well, word got out about these caverns near the town of Carlsbad and the incredible amount of guano.  And that word reached the ears of a man named Abijah Long. Abijah had moved to Carlsbad from Central Texas with his family and was a budding e...

[Transcript] Now, how did a national park end up way out here? Great question. Even up to the 1920s, there was no road connecting the cities of El Paso, Texas and Carlsbad, New Mexico. But with automobiles becoming more popular, locals saw the value of a road skirting south of the Guadalupe Mountains, which might entice tourists to visit the area.  So in 1929, the road between El Paso and Carlsbad...

[Transcript] The Quapaw Bathhouse is named after the native Quapaw tribe. And besides the Buckstaff, it's the only other bathhouse still in operation. But while the Buckstaff has been in constant operation, the Quapaw sat empty for more than 20 years, from 1984 until it was purchased for renovations in 2007. If you're trying to decide between taking a bath at the Quapaw or the Buckstaff,...

[Transcript] Welcome to stop number four of Shaka Guide's Gateway Arch National Park walking tour. We're currently on the west side of the Luther E. Lee Smith Square. This is the starting point of the Gateway Arch Trail, which leads down to the arch and winds through the park's lawn and gardens.  There are some concrete benches nearby if you'd like to sit down or walk the path...

[Transcript] Did you know, despite being the driest state in the U.S., over 60% of Nevada is used for grazing livestock? Ranching is so intertwined with the economy and history of this area, that for the first 12 years of Great Basin's national park status, grazing was actually allowed inside the park. Sheep herding in the Great Basin goes back to the late 1800s, and for many of the sheep her...

[Transcript] This next section of road is dotted with several choice overlooks. Feel free to pause wherever you see an open spot, but I'll recommend my favorite just five minutes ahead. There you'll get a great view of the park's tallest waterfall.  I'll point it out when we get there. In the meantime, let's learn a little bit more about the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Goin...

[Transcript] There are a few things you need to know about Bryce Point before we arrive. Bryce Point is the best place in the whole park to see the sunrise. I know, I know, there's a whole viewpoint called Sunrise Point, but trust me on this. Bryce Point is one of the most eastern-facing points in the park. And when the sun rises, the rays hit the top of the hoodoos in such a way that they lo...

[Transcript] Why are fruit orchards growing inside a national park, you ask? Well, the human story of Capitol Reef is one of perseverance. Flash floods, droughts, and scarce resources all posed a threat. It wasn't until the late 1800s that anyone tried to make permanent settlements in the region.  Many didn't survive. The village of Fruita, however, proved to have some staying power. Fru...

[Transcript] Hey, folks! Welcome to the famous Horseshoe Bend. Earlier, I told you a little about how this geological marvel was formed. But now, let's really dig into its background. Let's start with a question. If fast-moving rivers tend to flow straight, and slow-moving rivers tend to curve, then how did the famously fast Colorado River create this giant bend in the ground? Horseshoe...

Until now, we've mostly been admiring Mesa Verde's geology, but maybe you're asking yourself where's the archaeology? I think it's important that we get some geological context so you can truly appreciate these ancient structures when you finally see them. I'll do my best to tell you what I know, but if only the stone walls of Mesa Verde could talk. But wait, maybe th...

[Transcript] Now, just imagine you're standing at the lookout, admiring the view, when out of the corner of your eye, you see a car begin to roll backward toward the edge of the cliff. Now, you don't see anyone inside the car isn't empty. In 2010, this very scene played out at a nearby overlook here at the park. A dog named Haley, a dingo-akita mix, had been riding along with her ow...

[Transcript] Merrick actually has a twin butte called Mitchell over by the park entrance. They happen to be two of my favorite features in the entire park. And speaking of these two rock formations, that reminds me of a story. Want to know how these two buttes got their names? Back in 1863, Mitchell and Merrick were U.S. soldiers. They were tasked with rounding up the Navajo people and relocating...

[Transcript] Whether or not you chose to drive through the Valley of the Gods, you can still catch some views of it on the left as we pass by. For instance, look up ahead. See that small butte out there, the cone-shaped one? That's Belle Butte.  The Belle, along with the other formations in the valley, are made up of Dachet sandstone, the same red stone that comprises Monument Valley. But wha...

[Transcript] For the next seven miles, we'll be driving through the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, an engineering marvel set in some of America's most spectacular scenery. The project consists of three dams, named Gorge, Diablo, and Ross. Along with their powerhouses, the dams were all built along the upper Skagit River. Gorge Dam, which we'll see on our next stop at Gorge Cree...

[Transcript] Well, so long, beach. Now, for our next adventure, we're heading back to the Redwood Forest. But before we get there, I'd like to introduce you to one of the park's most iconic creatures, so you can keep a lookout for them on the trail.  Now, I'm talking about the Slippery Slimey Banana Slug. It's about the size and color of a banana, and this cousin of the sn...

[Transcript] As we drive along the eastern side of Lassen Peak, we're going to see more evidence of the 2021 Dixie Fire. Maybe you've been wondering, can anything good come out of something so destructive? The inspiring answer is yes. Fire is a natural and essential part of the forest ecosystem. And in fact, smaller, natural wildfires contribute to the health of the forest. When fire bur...

[Transcript] Wow, isn't that a phenomenal view? Well, we've got about five minutes till our next stop. It's a small pull-off called Amphitheater Point, and from that scenic overlook, you'll see unobstructed views of Morro Rock and the surrounding mountains. In the meantime, let's get back to a little national park history, okay? So, by 1890, we had established parks like Y...