Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen State Park is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Although privately owned, the area was opened to the public in 1863. The State took over administration of the 778 acres in 1911. The main attractions are the 400-ft.-deep gorge and 19 waterfalls along a two-mile trail. The first photo of Frowning Cliff is undated.
Jones Beach
Jones Beach State Park is located along the south shore of Long Island NY. There are 65 miles of beach in the 2,400-acre park. It opened in 1929 and now has six-million visitors annually. The two then photos are dated 1930s.
Red Rock Canyon
Located 80 miles east of Bakersfield CA, Red Rock Canyon State Park consists of 27,000 acres of desert ecosystem. It opened in 1968 and is the site of numerous western movies and TV shows. In addition, such blockbuster movies as Battlestar Galactica, Jurassic Park, and Planet of the Apes were made there. The first photo from the 1930s shows The Pillars of Hercules. Note the large rock in the center has eroded some, but is still there.
Spring Mill
Spring Mill State Park is located in southern Indiana near the town of Mitchell. It has about 1,400 acres and opened in the 1920s. However, settlers came to the area in the early 1800s due to the abundant flow of water from nearby springs. Since the water never freezes, a grist mill was built in 1817 and is still operating today. The first photo is undated.
Palisades Interstate Park
Palisades Interstate Park is 12 miles long and a 1/2-mile wide and consists of 2,500 acres along the Hudson River in Bergen County NJ. It has 30 miles of hiking trails and superb views of New York City. At one point, too many quarries threatened the natural setting, so in the 1890s the New Jersey State Federation of Womens Clubs campaigned to protect the area, which succeeded in 1900. In recognition of their efforts, the Womens Federation Monument was erected in 1929. It is seen at the dedication in the first photo.
