Park Invites the Public to An Evening in the Olympics

Date: August 14, 2009
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

Olympic National Park will host a special community event, ‘An Evening in the Olympics,’ on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Port Angeles High School auditorium.

The free event will be moderated by Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin and will feature a presentation by noted Sequim photographer Ross Hamilton, traditional songs and dances by the Klallam Dance Group and a special screening of ‘The National Parks: This is America,’ a new film by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns.

“In his film ‘This is America,’ Ken Burns highlights the history of national parks in our country and the wide diversity of people who love and enjoy them,” said Superintendent Karen Gustin. “We’re excited to share this new film and are honored to have the Klallam dancers and Ross Hamilton join us in celebrating Olympic National Park.”

Free tickets are required and will be available beginning August 25 in Port Angeles at Port Book and News and the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, in Sequim at Pacific Mist Books and in Forks at the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest Information Center. Tickets may also be requested by calling 360-565-3004.

“We’re grateful to the Friends of Olympic National Park, the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and KCTS 9 for their help in sponsoring this event,” remarked Gustin.

The 45-minute ‘This is America’ serves as a preview for Burns’ new six-part, 12-hour series, ‘The National Parks: America’s Best Idea’ which will premier on September 27 on KCTS 9 and public broadcasting stations nationwide. More information about the upcoming series can be found online at www.pbs.org/nationalparks/.

Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and his production partner Dayton Duncan were named honorary park rangers last May, in recognition of their contributions in telling the story of America’s national parks. In accepting the award, Burns noted that “National parks embody an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most magnificent and sacred places in our land belong not to royalty or the rich but to everyone- and for all time.”