The National Parks: America's Best Idea The Scripture of Nature: 1851-1890 (Season 1, Episode 1)
TV-G
TV Episode | 114 min | Documentary, History

Primary photo for The Scripture of Nature: 1851-1890

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

The Scripture of Nature: 1851-1890 (Season 1, Episode 1)

TV-G

TV Episode | 114 min | Documentary, History

A study of the first ideas which led to the establishment of America's national parks, with an emphasis on the work of John Muir and the exploration and preservation of Yosemite and Yellowstone.

Director

Ken Burns

Writer

Dayton Duncan (written by)

Producers

Ken Burns | Dayton Duncan | Karen Kenton

Cinematographers

Ken Burns | Lincoln Else | Allen Moore | Buddy Squires

Editor

Paul Barnes

See all filmmakers & crew (179)

Edit Released

Updated Sep 27, 2009

Release date

Sep 27, 2009 (United States)

Awards

Series awards

Won 2 Primetime Emmy Awards. Another 5 nominations

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
26 cast members

Name	Known for
Peter Coyote Self - Narrator (voice) Self - Narrator (voice) See fewer	Bitter Moon (1992)
Dayton Duncan Self - Writer Self - Writer See fewer	The Dust Bowl (2012)
Carl Pope Self - Sierra Club Self - Sierra Club See fewer	The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
Clay Jenkinson Self - Historian Self - Historian See fewer	Theodore Roosevelt (2022)
William Cronon Self - Historian Self - Historian See fewer	Divided Highways: The Interstates and the Transformation of American Life (1997)
Shelton Johnson Self - Park Ranger Self - Park Ranger See fewer	The Unruly Mystic: John Muir (2018)
Alfred Runte Self - Historian Self - Historian See fewer	National Parks Revealed (2006)
Lee Stetson Self - Muir Historian (voice) Self - Muir Historian (voice) See fewer	Return (I) (1985)
Adam Arkin Reader (voice) Reader (voice) See fewer	Get Shorty (2017)
Gretel Ehrlich Self - Writer Self - Writer See fewer	The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
Philip Bosco Reader (voice) Reader (voice) See fewer	The Savages (2007)
Terry Tempest Williams Self - Writer Self - Writer See fewer	The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
Gerard Baker Self - Park Superintendent Self - Park Superintendent See fewer	Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003)
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Lee Whittlesey Self - Historian Self - Historian See fewer	Yellowstone: America's First National Park (2006)
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