University News

American National Parks "Interpretation in the National Parks" Talk Nov. 9 at Malpass Library

November 1, 2016

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL — In celebration of the U.S. National Park Service's centennial year, Western Illinois University Libraries presents the speaker series, "Celebrating the National Parks and Park Service," delivered by WIU faculty members. The presentations in the series are open free to the public.

WIU Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Professor Michael McGowan will deliver the second presentation in the series, "Interpretation in National Parks," which is set to start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 in the Leslie F. Malpass Library Garden Lounge.

"'Interpretation' is the method of communicating with national park visitors used by the Park Service. Dr. McGowan will describe the purpose of the Park Service's interpretive programs and his experience as an interpreter at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin. As a volunteer interpreter, Dr. McGowan's primary focus was sharing historical information about the activities of people in the Lake Superior region, focusing on the lighthouse service and the role it played in commerce and economic development of the region," Zellmer noted. "In his presentation, he will explore the intimate role the lighthouses played in the Western Lake Superior economy from 1850 to the present, paying particular attention to the role of the Devils Island Light, where he was stationed in 2007 and 2008. His presentation will include visual depictions of the lighthouse station, the workings of the lighthouse and the sea caves and geological features of Devils Island. The focus will be on the environmental impacts of commerce on the region and how the National Park Service interpreters convey these impacts to the public."

The U.S. National Park Service celebrated its 100th birthday August 25, but Yellowstone National Park, the first National Park in the world, was established March 1, 1872.

According to Linda Zellmer, government and data services librarian, staff who work at the National Park Service now manage 413 different units throughout the U.S., including 59 national parks, 84 national monuments, as well as national battlefields, military parks, historic sites and other sites.

For more information, contact Zellmer at (309) 298-2723 or via email at LR-Zellmer@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing