The National Parks: America's Best Idea
2009 · Miniseries · TV-G · 120 min · ★ 7.9
This documentary miniseries explores how America’s national parks were created and protected over time. Across sweeping landscapes and personal stories, it shows how people from many walks of life fought to preserve extraordinary places and shaped a broader idea of shared public land.
Where to watch
Streaming on PBS Documentaries.
12 hours to watch · 6 episodes.
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Details
- Years
- 2009
- Release date
- 2009-09-27
- Network
- PBS
- Language
- English
- Rated
- TV-G
- Runtime
- 120 min
- TMDB rating
- 7.9/10 (22 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you like expansive history documentaries and awe-filled nature viewing, especially if American Experience or The Dust Bowl appeal to you; Not for you if patriotic messaging or a 12-hour runtime sounds exhausting.
Pros: stunning natural views; fascinating park history; inspiring human stories | Cons: long runtime; heavy-handed themes; uneven pacing
Themes
- national park
- nature
- america
Cast & crew
Directed by Ken Burns
Episodes1 season · 6 episodes
Season 16 episodes
- S1E1The Scripture of Nature (1851 – 1890)120mAmazon Prime Video
- S1E2The Last Refuge (1890 – 1915)120mAmazon Prime Video
- S1E3The Empire of Grandeur (1915 – 1919)120mAmazon Prime Video
- S1E4Going Home (1920 – 1933)120mAmazon Prime Video
- S1E5Great Nature (1933 – 1945)120mAmazon Prime Video
- S1E6The Morning of Creation (1946 – 1980)120mAmazon Prime Video