Olympic National Park Background Check
Even though I have not had the pleasure to visit this beautiful place yet, it is definitely on the top of my list for the next national park I want to visit. Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks with several different ecosystems. These diverse ecosystems include glacier-capped mountains, temperate rain forests, and coastline spreading over 70 miles. This park is enriched with thousands of years of human history that the park protects right alongside its diversified wilderness.
Tribes of the Olympic Peninsula
The original human residents of the Olympic Peninsula were tribes who lived off of the land’s rivers, mountains, forests, animals, and oceans to survive. These lands provided rich resources for the inhabitants both physically and spiritually. Even though the ancestors of these tribes gave their land and waters to the federal government through treaties in the 1850s, those connections to the land and culture remains rich in the park. Today, these tribes live on reservations along the shores of the peninsula and continue to rely on the land in both physical and spiritual practices.
Now, after reading some tribal history, you may be wondering how this land officially became a national park. Well, ever since the 1880s, the Olympic Peninsula’s incredible views and unique wildlife have caused visitors of all walks of life to come witness the beauty in person. Naturalist John Muir, Congressman James Wickersham, and Lieutenant Joseph O’Neil led the first thoroughly documented exploration of the peninsula and consecutively proposed the creation of a national park in the region. In 1897, after the forests began to disappear, President Grover Cleveland designated the peninsula as the Olympic Forest Reserve. Then, in 1909, part of the reserve was designated as Mount Olympus National Monument by President Teddy Roosevelt to protect the habitat of the declining population of the Roosevelt Elk. Finally, in 1938, the land was signed as an official national park after yet another president visited, President Franklin Roosevelt. He publicized his support for protecting the wildlife within its borders and it became what is now know as Olympic National Park.
What is so special about this park anyways? Looking at more modern times, Olympic National Park has been recognized internationally when it was designated an International Biosphere reserve in the Man and the Biosphere Program by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Another international recognition arrived for the park in 1981 after it was declared a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Convention. Throughout the park’s diverse landscape, there are unforgettable cultural and historic sites that tell the stories of the humans who once inhabited the land.
Now that you are planning your trip to the Northwest coast, what should you expect to see while on the peninsula?
Mountains: Rising from the depths of the ocean 34 million years ago, the Olympic mountains are considered “young.” This preteen of a mountain range will cause any jaw to drop. The Olympic Mountains are decorated with meadows, lakes, and plenty of forests.
Rivers and Lakes: Incase you wanted to get your feet wet, Olympic National Park is known for its water features coming from its abundant rain and snow gifted by the northern coast’s climate. Whether you are fishing or walking along stream, you can experience this park’s different ecosystems and geologically diverse land.
Forests: Being that the park was officially created to preserve its forests, you won’t be disappointed. These forests contain a diverse group of trees and help the 62 species of mammals that roam the forest floors.
Coast: Whether you want to smell the salty air form the crashing waves, listen to the barking sea lions, or witness a breathtaking sunset, I think the coast of Olympic National Park might just be for you.
I love your use of punctuation to keep the post engaging. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Olympic National Park 4 years ago and it really is as diverse and unique as you say it is. My favorite parts were the Hoh Rainforest and Ruby Beach. Both places feel like another planet and are truly jaw-dropping. It was really interesting for me to learn about how it become a national park, because I didn’t know anything about that beforehand.