Part of a series of articles titled Values Embodied in Geoheritage.
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Article • Values Embodied in Geoheritage
NPS photo by Kait Thomas.
A grand vista, such as the view from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, can kindle a sense of wonder and stimulate the imagination. As described in Chapter 2, Thomas Moran’s painting of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone harnessed that intangible connection to the aesthetic value of the Yellowstone region to help establish the world’s first national park. People find inspiration in nature, and geologic sites provide a source of the intellectual impulse for art, invention, and creative problemsolving. Some national parks and other geoheritage areas have Artist-in-Residence programs to provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art inspired by the scenery and to share their work with the public.
Art has entwined nature, culture, and science for centuries. Alaska’s artistic heritage is part of a long and important tradition for understanding, sharing, and preserving parks and related protected areas. Long before the concept of the parks was framed, artists and their art works were already inspiring support for exploration, and sometimes for protection of the special places they knew.
Part of a series of articles titled Values Embodied in Geoheritage.
Previous: Aesthetic Value
Next: Cultural Value
Last updated: December 21, 2020