Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

08/19/2026

WE'RE BACK!!! In case you hadn't heard the National Park Service opened at temporary visitor center today. The visitor center is located at 520 16th Street North in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Commons Meeting space (next to the gift shop).

Come visit us Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.

ALL IMAGES: NPS Photo/ Traci Jones

08/17/2026

Beginning August 19, The National Park Service will open a temporary visitor center for the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument while renovations take place at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel. The temporary visitor center will be located in The Commons meeting space at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located at 520 16th Street North in Birmingham. The visitor center will be open Wednesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a museum located in Birmingham which promotes comprehensive understanding of the significance of the development of civil rights in Birmingham. Visit the BCRI website for information on the museum, operating hours and entrance fees.

On May 10, the National Park Service closed the visitor center in the A.G. Gaston Motel for renovation. However, the coffee shop and exhibit space in the 1968 wing of the A.G. Gaston Motel, operated by the City of Birmingham, remain open during construction. The renovations will improve visitor access, build exhibit space and recreate a motel room and the “War Room” to their 1963 appearance.

Check the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument online for updates on the construction process at www.nps.gov/bicr/planyourvisit/construction-updates.htm.

IMAGE: NPS Photo- Rolando Herts

05/13/2026

News You Can Use: The NPS-owned 1954 wing of the A.G. Gaston Motel has closed for renovations. The City of Birmingham-owned 1968 wing, including the exhibit gallery and coffee shop, will remain open during construction. The renovations are expected to take 18 months. NPS staff will establish a temporary visitor center during construction. Details will be announced when they are available.

We wanted to share this local news story about the renovation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxYqTS-MwEg

To find out more information about the progress of the project, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/bicr/planyourvisit/construction-updates.htm

04/28/2026

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument will temporarily close the A.G. Gaston Motel to renovate the historic 1954 wing of the motel. Saturday, May 9 is the final day that the public can visit the historic wing of the motel before renovation begins.

The park expects construction to last approximately 18 months. A temporary visitor center will be open during the construction. The park will post details on the website and announce the location at a later date.

Visit the Gaston Construction webpage for updates about the project: https://www.nps.gov/bicr/planyourvisit/construction-updates.htm

04/23/2026

Did you know that a group of activists challenged segregated interstate travel more than a decade before the Freedom Rides of 1961?

In 1946, the Supreme court ruled in Morgan v. Virginia that segregation laws should not apply to interstate bus travel. The following year, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) put that ruling to the test.

From April 9–23, 1947, CORE organized an in*******al group to travel by bus and train through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, Along the way, they faced threats, arrests, and in some cases sentences of chain gang labor. This ride helped inspire the Freedom Riders of 1961.

Join Freedom Riders National Monument on May 9, 2026, for a commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides. Events will occur throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm. Event details will be updated when they become available.