Rescue workers are searching for over a dozen hikers who went missing after a flash flood ripped through the Grand Canyon over the weekend. 
The National Park Service confirmed that at least 15 people were missing or unaccounted for in remote areas of the canyon after heavy rain on Saturday caused flash flooding. At least one 46-year-old man was killed during the flooding as authorities anticipate more severe weather to hammer the area on Monday. 
The flooding occurred Saturday in Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch. Bright Angel Canyon is reached by the most popular trail in the Grand Canyon, and Phantom Ranch is a well-known area at the bottom of the canyon where overnight lodging cabins are available.
Both areas were closed Saturday following the heavy rainfall, and over 62 people were evacuated by Sunday morning. 
“The flash flood resulted in significant impacts to infrastructure throughout Bright Angel Canyon. Nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, eliminating hiker access across the creek,” the National Park Service said. 
<div id="attachment_1168475" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1168475" class="size-full wp-image-1168475" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-31-at-7.18.10-AM.png" alt="" width="1270" height="949" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-31-at-7.18.10-AM.png 1270w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-31-at-7.18.10-AM-300x224.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-31-at-7.18.10-AM-771x576.png 771w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-31-at-7.18.10-AM-768x574.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1270px) 100vw, 1270px" />NPS Photo: J Thompson.</div>
“Grand Canyon National Park staff, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, are continuing evacuation and response efforts and working to account for individuals who may have been in the affected area,” the National Park Service said Sunday. 
Authorities also said that the Colorado River, which runs through the canyon, would be “closed to river traffic until further notice due to metal structures and debris entering the river. River parties already in the canyon are receiving direction through river operations rangers and the Grand Canyon River Alert system.”
The 46-year-old man found dead was discovered around Crystal Rapids, a well-known and challenging section of the Colorado River.
Evacuated hiker David Gregory said rescue efforts likely saved his life. 
“I definitely think we could have gotten caught up in that side creek, and if we would have fallen in or the water carried us in, I think it would have been game over,” he <a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2026/08/31/body-found-near-colorado-river-after-devastating-flooding/">told</a> AZ Family. “Because that creek was moving so quickly, there was so many rocks and tree branches and then once you get into the Colorado River, it was like a whirlpool in there with all the debris circling around.”
The National Park Service asked anyone who knows of someone hiking in the area or with a camping reservation to flag authorities. 
More rain is expected on Monday that could cause further flooding and damage to park infrastructure.

Grand Canyon National Park To Celebrate Centennial In February

Hikers Vanish As Flash Flood Sweeps Through Grand Canyon

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President Donald Trump on Monday escalated his criticism of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, accusing one of his longtime allies of “choking” after her office dropped criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration with Pirro, who was appointed U.S. attorney in part because of her close relationship with the president.
“I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it&#8217;s a disgrace,” Trump told reporters. 
The president was referring to news that broke Friday, when Pirro’s office determined that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool stemmed from faulty construction rather than vandalism.
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<div>White House reporter Jake Traylor <a href="https://x.com/jake__traylor/status/2084383023164743844?s=20">spotted</a> Pirro arriving at the West Wing following Trump’s remarks.</div>
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The Daily Wire asked the White House whether Pirro’s job was in jeopardy following Trump’s criticism. The administration referred back to the president’s public comments without offering further clarification.
Pirro moved to drop criminal charges against David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympian, whom prosecutors accused of deliberately damaging the pool during a sweeping renovation project for America&#8217;s 250th anniversary. <a href="https://legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/28528042-260731-hearn">In a motion to dismiss the case</a>, the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the District of Columbia blamed “flawed installation” by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings for the damage, admitting that newly produced evidence “undermines the evidentiary basis” for the indictment.
Over the weekend, Trump said he “100%” disagreed with Pirro’s decision in a scathing <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117021210137447022">Truth Social</a> post, and on Monday, he doubled down on his objection while speaking at the White House.
&#8220;The judge was extremely unfriendly to Jeanine and, frankly, I think she choked because the judge was really vicious,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/2084348330214387762?s=20">said</a>. &#8220;Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went after her and went after her department.&#8221;
“I guess she choked. I don&#8217;t know what the hell happened,” he added. 
It marked a dramatic reversal for Pirro, who had secured a grand jury indictment against the three-time Olympian just weeks earlier, alleging he ripped a piece of sealant from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with his bare hands. Hearn, 67, was facing a felony count of destruction of property following his. June 19 arrest in the nation’s capital, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-case-just-took-a-turn-for-an-ex-olympian">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported.
Attorneys for Hearn <a href="https://x.com/ryanjreilly/status/2072768984160534736?s=20">said</a> their client was innocent and that the grand jury charges were “outrageous and should be alarming to every American.”
“This was a deliberate act to damage the Reflecting Pool at the National Mall that members of the National Park Service actually have worked hard to restore,” Pirro said at a July 2 press conference. “We can state and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused damage, and that damage is over $1,000.”
On June 19, Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was on a bike ride when he stopped to see the Reflecting Pool after viral reports of algae in the water, describing himself to ABC News as a “curious, concerned citizen<a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/olympian-arrested-reflecting-pool-damage/story?id=134078925%5C%5C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">.</a>” 
That’s when U.S. Park Police warned, then arrested, the former Olympian after he touched a piece of blue coating. Prosecutors say he later tore two square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool, an account Hearn denies.
“I saw a piece of this loose end of this blue coating … I reached out and touched the end of that piece that was loose but still attached to the bottom,” Hearn told ABC News. “I was able to reach out and touch the edge that was still attached at the bottom and handled it a little bit.”
At the time, federal prosecutors painted a different picture of the incident. 
“Our evidence further shows that the National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands,” Pirro said in July, adding that witnesses described Hearn’s behavior as “belligerent” and “disrespectful.”
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The dismissal of the case marks a setback for Trump, who has repeatedly railed against damage and negative publicity surrounding iconic landmarks he has pushed to restore, calling alleged vandals “SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!”
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Man Suspected Of 2012 Benghazi Attack In Libya Is In US Custody

Pirro Arrives At White House After Trump Says She ‘Choked,’ ‘Folded Like an Umbrella’

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A secluded U.S. national park requires all parkgoers to show a valid passport or birth certificate to enter.
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/npsa/index.htm">The National Park of American Samoa</a> is a unique sanctuary situated in a remote location and spread across three islands: Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta‘ū. The national park is surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean and located 2,600 miles Southwest of Hawaii. 
Visitors to the park arrive at the Pago Pago International Airport, <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/remote-national-park-america-samoa-only-its-kind-requires-us-passport-visit">according</a> to Fox Weather. The limited transportation options to the islands mean that visitors must prove their United States citizenship or nationality by showing their valid passport or certified birth certificate for entry, <a href="https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/american-samoa">according</a> to the Department of the Interior. The park is open year-round, and there are no fees to enter.
This national park’s unique climate involves regular rainstorms during the wet season from October to May. The dry season, from June to September, is the ideal time for outdoor activities, such as hiking or enjoying the beaches. Visitors should also be prepared for humidity and warm temperatures year-round, according to the National Park Service (NPS) website.
The islands are home to diverse wildlife and span over 4,000 acres of underwater landscape. There are 800 types of fish, 200 types of coral, humpback whales, sea turtles, and other native creatures, including flying foxes, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/npsa/learn/nature/animals.htm">according</a> to the NPS.
Across the three islands, the park offers scenic mountain trails, beautiful coastal views, Samoan villages, rainforest hikes, white sand beaches, and snorkeling through coral reefs.
The NPS also provides a list of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/npsa/planyourvisit/index.htm">packing and safety tips</a> for visitors while at the park. &#8220;Visiting the National Park of American Samoa is a unique and unforgettable experience,&#8221; it writes. &#8220;By following these tips, you’ll have a safe and enjoyable visit while helping to preserve the natural and cultural wonders of the park for future generations.&#8221;

A Secluded National Park Requires A Passport For Entry

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The Trump administration announced Tuesday that national park fees will be raised for foreign tourists visiting the United States, while fees for American families will remain the same. 
Starting on January 1,  2026, the Department of the Interior announced that annual park passes will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $250 for nonresidents. Nonresidents without annual passes will have to pay $100 per person to enter the top 11 most visited national parks in addition to the standard entrance fee. The extra money charged to foreign tourists will go toward maintenance and care of the parks, the Interior Department said. 
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on Tuesday. “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.” 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Department of <a href="https://twitter.com/Interior?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Interior</a> is making it easier for AMERICANS to enjoy our National Parks:
🇺🇸 U.S. residents enjoy affordable pricing, while foreigners pay a high rate. 
💰 Fee-free days will be extended, now including Flag Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day and more. 
📲… <a href="https://t.co/SQzbXPzScp">https://t.co/SQzbXPzScp</a> <a href="https://t.co/R4aID2Zieh">pic.twitter.com/R4aID2Zieh</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1993418797823283277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
American citizens and permanent residents will also get fee-free access to the parks on Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day Weekend, the National Park Service’s 110th anniversary, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans’ Day. 
The 11 parks where foreign tourists will have to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm">pay more</a> include Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Everglades National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park.
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The new fee structure came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July to raise entrance and recreation fees at parks for nonresidents. 
“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park systems,” Trump said. “I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans. And we’re going to do that. The National Parks will be about America First, we’re gonna take it America First.”
The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/making-america-beautiful-again-by-improving-our-national-parks/">executive order</a> stated that the additional funds raised will be used to enhance park infrastructure and make the parks more accessible and affordable for Americans. 
In recent years, there has been an increase in tourism at national parks, with a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/visitor-use-statistics-dashboard.htm">record</a> 331.9 million visitors in 2024. That was up from the 2016 record of 330,971,689 visits.

Trump Admin Rolls Out ‘America First’ National Park Guidelines

Trump Admin Rolls Out 'America First' National Park Guidelines

Department of the Interior

Doug Burgum

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration would begin charging foreign tourists more to enter America&#8217;s national parks than U.S. residents.
The announcement at a rally in Iowa came as he signed two executive orders dealing with national parks, including one that directs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to “appropriately” raise prices of entrance fees and recreation passes for non-residents. 
“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park systems,” Trump said. “I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans. And we’re going to do that. The National Parks will be about America First, we’re gonna take it America First.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces that entrance fees for foreign tourists at National Parks will be raised in order to fund park improvements and enhanced experiences: &#8220;The National Parks will be about AMERICA FIRST&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/fIUB7ET0tC">pic.twitter.com/fIUB7ET0tC</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940943247083520128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/making-america-beautiful-again-by-improving-our-national-parks/">executive order</a> states that the additional funds raised will be used to enhance park infrastructure and make the parks more accessible and affordable for Americans. 
“From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America&#8217;s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories,” Trump wrote in the executive order. “It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America&#8217;s splendid national treasures.”
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The order also directs Burgum to establish rules granting American residents preferential treatment for permitting or in situations where a lottery system restricts entry to certain areas. 
In recent years, there has been an increase in tourism at national parks, with a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/visitor-use-statistics-dashboard.htm">record</a> 331.9 million visitors in 2024. In response, more and more parks, such as Arches in Utah and Rocky Mountain in Colorado, have begun implementing timed-entry programs. 
The order also rescinded an Obama-era <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/19/2017-01383/promoting-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-national-parks-national-forests-and-other-public-lands-and">executive order</a> that called for the National Park Service to promote diversity and inclusion, including in the workforce. 
The other executive order signed by Trump on Thursday created the “Make America Beautiful Commission,&#8221; composed of Burgum, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and other cabinet officials. 
The commission was tasked with advising the president on how to “responsibly conserve America&#8217;s national treasures and natural resources” and “developing policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation.”
The commission was instructed “to expand access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing.”

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Trump Admin To Adjust National Park Fees To Prioritize American Families Over Foreign Tourists

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The National Park Service “is nearing completion of” a renovation of the Jefferson Memorial that turns the site into “a condemning portrayal” of the president’s legacy, City Journal recently <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/a-woke-jefferson-memorial">reported</a>.
The project aims to “completely renovate” the basement exhibit level of the memorial to “[provide] more perspectives as it shares Thomas Jefferson’s multi-faceted story,” a 2021 NPS press release said.
NPS signage at the memorial describes the upcoming exhibits, according to City Journal.
“The memorial’s designers sought to convey their mid-1900s version of US democracy,” it said. “Thomas Jefferson became the face of that endeavor. … In crafting this image, they selected specific materials, details, and excerpts from his writings. Studying these choices reveals their motives.”
But instead of informing visitors about Jefferson’s life, the new exhibits will undermine Jefferson’s legacy, City Journal said.
Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/2-year-jefferson-memorial-renovation-project-begins/">said</a> in 2021 that the new exhibits will “certainly … take a look at the paradox of the author of the lines ‘All men are created equal’ who owned more than 600 slaves in his life.”
The renovation is funded in part by $10 million from David M. Rubenstein, the NPS press release said. Rubenstein previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/post-modern-mischief-at-americas-national-parks-and-museums">funded</a> exhibits about slavery at Montpelier, the home of James Madison, and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
In 2019, Rubenstein <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/philanthropist-donates-10-million-jefferson-memorial-museum-180973445/">said</a> he donated to the project “so when people go, they can actually learn about Jefferson.”
But what does Rubenstein want people to learn about Jefferson, exactly? In a piece announcing Rubenstein’s donation, Smithsonian Magazine called Jefferson “a man of huge contradictions.” The memorial renovation will focus on “reinterpreting” Jefferson, particularly in light of allegations that Jefferson had four illegitimate children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves.
The magazine ignored a scholarly commission that <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56d77a9ad51cd4a272d514c0/t/63d84b8a2683c7769f1972a1/1675119505362/Scholars-Commission-Report-1.pdf">found</a> that “the allegation is by no means proven” after examining available DNA evidence, as City Journal reported.
The old museum “focused on Jefferson’s own words, life, and ideas,” City Journal said. While the memorial above tried to present Jefferson in line with the New Deal policies of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who dedicated it in 1943 — the museum below showcased “Jefferson’s commitment to limited government and local control.”
Plans for the renovation of the Jefferson Memorial began in 2017. Kate Greenberg, then-vice president of marketing and communications for the Trust at the National Mall, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jefferson-memorial-exhibit-to-feature-update-addressing-slavery">said</a> the renovation would include the “most inclusive and accurate information” available.
The renovation is continuing despite an executive order from President Donald Trump that <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history/">aims</a> to purge “anti-American ideology” from museums, parks, and monuments, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-targeting-anti-american-ideology-at-the-smithsonian">reported</a>.
“Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history,” the order said.
The order instructs Secretary of the Interior Mark Burgum to ensure that monuments “do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.”
Although the order has been in effect since March, the renovation project continues and plans to open in 2025, City Journal said.

USA, Washington DC, Jefferson Memorial

National Park Service Renovation To Focus On ‘Reinterpreting’ Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Washington D.C.

If 2014 was a “<a href="https://manhattan.institute/event/the-great-awokening" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Awokening</a>,” then 2020 was the start of a second wave – a movement that’s led the entire nation to wrestle with questions around race, diversity, and our origin story.
But what will 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – bring? Some hope it’ll be a time to celebrate and commemorate the American story. But others – including many influential organizations – stand in opposition, seeking instead to fundamentally transform Americans’ understanding of our history.
Foremost among these activist organizations is the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, our <a href="https://monumentlab.com/monumentlab-nationalmonumentaudit.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“nation’s largest supporter of the arts and the humanities.”</a>
In 2020, Mellon placed <a href="https://www.mellon.org/news/mellon-foundation-announces-transformation-its-strategic-direction-and-new-focus-social-justice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social justice at the center of its grant-making initiatives</a>. Since then, it’s issued <a href="https://www.heritage.org/american-history/commentary/the-mellon-foundations-assault-american-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">numerous and sizeable</a> grants supporting anti-racist and pro-LGBTQ+ programs.
Notably, it gave <a href="https://www.mellon.org/grant-details/gender-and-lgbtq+-history-20450131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$150,000 to the New-York Historical Society</a> in 2021 to support a “Gender and LGBTQ+ History Fellow.” In 2023, that same society <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/10/06/somethings-queer-colonial-williamsburg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered with Colonial Williamsburg</a> to host a teacher chat on “Queer History and Methodologies” and a workshop on “Best Practices for Teaching Queer History.” This course, open to educators from preschool to college level, was officially approved by New York state as qualifying toward public educators’ continuing education requirements.
In 2023, the Mellon Foundation joined the Alice Walton Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Pilot Philanthropy in a “<a href="https://www.mellon.org/news/new-investments-for-more-diverse-leadership-in-art-museums" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leadership in Art Museums” initiative</a> that committed over “$11M in funding to museums to increase racial equity in leadership roles…” at museums.
This program is in addition to the <a href="https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/press-releases/mellon-foundation-grants-over-13m-to-the-national-park-foundation-to-support-thirty-postdoctoral-fellowships-in-the-humanities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Park Service Mellon Humanities Fellowship</a>,” which funds postdoctoral fellows at national parks to research “how the parks are impacted and/or informed by issues related to gender and sexuality equality, the legacy of the civil rights movement, and the history of labor and productivity.”
One of these fellows, placed at James Monroe’s Highlands (his home from 1799 to 1823), wrote <a href="https://clioandthecontemporary.com/2023/10/31/engaging-different-communities-highland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that 2020 marked</a> a “racial and social” reckoning at museums, which she described as “preservers of white supremacist versions of the past.”
In 2022, Mellon <a href="https://www.nationalparks.org/news-and-updates/press-releases/mellon-foundation-grants-over-13m-to-the-national-park-foundation-to-support-thirty-postdoctoral-fellowships-in-the-humanities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expanded this post-doctoral program</a>, committing over $13 million for 30 new fellows at our national parks. Another Mellon fellow remarked that this program “has the potential to transform the stories told at many of the country’s national parks.”
Words like “transform” and “reimagine” are often indicators of post-modernist mischief.
For example, the Mellon Foundation has committed <a href="https://www.mellon.org/article/the-monuments-project-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$500 million to transforming</a> our nation’s monuments landscape, in part because it saw a lack of “U.S.-born Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or self-identified LGBTQ+ people” in the list of top 50 individuals most frequently memorialized.
This sort of transformation seeks primarily to achieve equity of identity characteristics rather than recognition for meritorious deeds that all Americans can claim as part of our history. Ultimately, this approach favors inclusivity over accuracy.
As was previously noted, the Mellon Foundation has been partnering with the National Park Service on some of its initiatives. The National Park Service and Foundation are currently making changes to the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, to be completed by this spring and the 250th anniversary, respectively.
Work at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/thjework.htm?utm_source=article&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=experience_more&amp;utm_content=small" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jefferson Memorial will include</a> “expanded and reimagined exhibit space” and “new state-of-the-art exhibits” that will provide “more perspectives as it shares Thomas Jefferson’s multi-faceted story.”
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/wamo/planyourvisit/undercroft.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At the Lincoln Memorial</a>, new exhibits “will highlight the construction history of the memorial and discuss how the Lincoln Memorial has become the nation’s foremost backdrop for civil rights demonstrations.”
Both of these efforts have been enabled by donations from philanthropist and businessman David M. Rubenstein, who funded the exhibits on slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and <a href="https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/understand-montpeliers-leftist-turn-follow-the-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Madison’s Montpelier</a>.
Americans can hope that the new exhibits at two of our foremost national memorials will be informative, balanced, and accurate. But the ones funded by Rubenstein at Montpelier are decidedly not.
There are currently <a href="https://www.montpelier.org/visit/galleries-and-exhibits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no exhibits at Montpelier focused on James Madison</a> and his contributions. And the ones on offer contain <a href="https://www.heritage.org/conservatism/report/tale-three-presidential-houses-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">many distortions, “gotcha” efforts, and at least one factual error</a>.
This raises concerns for the memorials both of Thomas Jefferson, Madison’s close friend and ally in the cause for human freedom, and for Abraham Lincoln, who urged us to give all honor to Jefferson—to the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times.
Today, a visible divide exists between those who want to commemorate our first 250 years of history and dedication to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and those who want to transform and reject it.
In this moment, perhaps we should turn to Abraham Lincoln, who began his famous <a href="https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/house-divided-speech-3/">House Divided speech</a>, “If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it.”
Anniversaries are times to reflect, assess, and resolve a way forward. More, they are cause to celebrate, remember, and demonstrate gratitude.
America is indeed exceptional. This free country has granted us, its current posterity, the opportunity to continue in the work we are in, to prove to ourselves, and the world, that the noble ambition of a self-governing nation can indeed be kept.
* * *
Brenda M. Hafera is the Assistant Director and Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage Foundation&#8217;s Simon Center for American Studies.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Note: This article has been edited for clarity.

New Dawn over Washington

Post-Modern Mischief At America’s National Parks And Museums

Post-Modern Mischief At America's National Parks And Museums

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Equity

Founding Fathers

heritage foundation

Leftists

lgbtq

Museum

opinion

woke culture

Archeologists announced on Tuesday that they had discovered five musket balls in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/massachusetts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massachusetts</a> likely fired by Patriot forces at the British during the first battle in America’s war for independence. 
The National Park Service <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mima/learn/news/nps-discovers-nearly-250-year-old-musket-balls-from-shot-heard-round-the-world.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the musket balls were found at the North Bridge Battle site in Concord, Massachusetts, part of the Lexington and Concord battlefield. According to the archeologists, the musket balls were fired by members of a colonial militia that had mustered on April 19, 1775, to confront the British who were in Concord to confiscate a colonist ammunition store. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago,&#8221; said Minute Man Park Ranger and historic weapons specialist Jarrad Fuoss. &#8220;These musket balls can be considered collectively as &#8216;The Shot Heard Round the World,&#8217; and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history.&#8221;
The discovery was made as archeologists made preparations for new improvements and restorations at the Minute Man National Historical Park. According to the National Park Service, the musket balls were found on the side of a river where the British were stationed. The musket balls were fired from the other side of the river where the colonists were coming from, according to analysis from the archeologists. 
&#8220;Pulling one of those out of the ground, being able to hold it in your hand knowing the last person to touch this musket ball was ramming it down the barrel of their gun on the morning of April 19, 1775 is incredible,&#8221; Fuoss told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/shot-heard-round-the-world-concord-massachusetts-musket-balls/">CBS News</a>.  
On April 19, about 200 British soldiers arrived in Concord looking to confiscate ammunition and artillery pieces they believed to be stored at the home of Col. James Barrett. The British had just come from Lexington where they had fired upon a group of militiamen who had gathered on the town&#8217;s green after an unknown person fired the first shot of the war. 
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Once in Concord, the British were again challenged by more militiamen after the colonists believed their homes had started being put on fire. The militiamen started marching toward the North Bridge where they were fired upon by the British and returned fire. The skirmish lasted less than three minutes with the gunfire becoming known there as “the shot heard round the world.” Even more British were killed as they retreated away from Concord. 
At the end of the day, 93 Americans and 300 British <a href="https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/lexington-and-concord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were dead</a> after what would become recognized as the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War. 
Tourists to Concord will be able to see the musket balls on display on July 13.

MixCollage-10-Jul-2024-02-50-PM-1743

Archeologists Find Musket Balls Fired By Patriots During First Battle Of American Revolution

American History

massachusetts

Revolutionary War

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-park-service">National Park Service</a> announced that it is reversing course on removing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/statues">statue</a> of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> founder William Penn from a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/history">historical</a> park due to massive backlash against the decision. 
The organization announced on Friday that it would remove both the statue and a replica of Penn&#8217;s home from Welcome Park, a recreation area within Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
Per the original <a href="https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/news/park-seeks-input-on-the-rehabilitation-of-welcome-park.htm">announcement</a>, the NPS was seeking “to rehabilitate Welcome Park to provide a more welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience for visitors.”
The stated replacement for Penn’s statue and home included an homage to American Indians.
“The proposed rehabilitation of Welcome Park includes expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia and was developed in consultation with representatives of the indigenous nations of the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma,” the update said.
The NPS invited public comment on the change, which led them to scrap the plans altogether following public outrage.
&#8220;The preliminary draft proposal, which was released prematurely and had not been subject to a complete internal agency review, is being retracted. No changes to the William Penn statue are planned,&#8221; an updated NPS statement <a href="https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/news/park-withdraws-review-of-welcome-park-rehabilitation-proposal.htm?fbclid=IwAR3lDfWxt1cL8janQW5Koe_dPuRoPB-EzlAS5uekAF5nUOeoDP5428Z6Cac">said</a>.
Critics of the plan, including politicians, expressed their opinions online. 
State Representative Martina White (R-PA) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/repmartinawhite/posts/pfbid02ttMHiahZLeQoV65fBozbc7CkcTpzestfjrpwXDs6Hy4yjT4F2J4c7WQ28q6gGJc3l?amp%3B__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">wrote</a> on Facebook, “I hope they will find a way to incorporate the statue into the renovations,” while inviting constituents to share their opinions with the NPS on the proposed changes.
A lot of the backlash came via X.
“It started with Confederate statues. Now they&#8217;ve arrived at William Penn,” entrepreneur Michael Seifert <a href="https://twitter.com/realmichaelseif/status/1744410326353821871">wrote</a> in one popular post. “It doesn&#8217;t matter that he supported religious freedom, opposed slavery, and treated Native Americans with respect. It was always about replacing the history of the United States.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro seemed to agree with the NPS’s course reversal, <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1744502454048178194">writing</a> in an X post, “My team has been in contact with the Biden Administration throughout the day to correct this decision. I’m pleased Welcome Park will remain the rightful home of this William Penn statue — right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Penn founded.”
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“Yay!” X owner Elon Musk commented, while another commenter <a href="https://twitter.com/RecoverRepub/status/1744508800973828547">thought</a> “the only reason why this decision was stopped is because the public got wind of it and became rightfully outraged.”
“Make no mistake: the Biden Administration tried to tear down a statue of William Penn as part of its toxic obsession with &#8216;equity.&#8217;  They only stopped because they got caught,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1744738325645447195">wrote</a> of the controversy.
William Penn was an influential Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonial era. The deeply religious Englishman was an advocate of democracy and religious freedom and was well-known for making fair and lasting treaties with native tribes as he helped establish the commonwealth.

William Penn statue

Statue Of PA Founder William Penn Won’t Be Removed From Public Park Following Backlash

Statue Of PA Founder William Penn Won't Be Removed From Public Park Following Backlash

History

pennsylvania

philadelphia

Social Issues

Statues

U.S.

The National <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christmas</a> Tree in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington, D.C.</a>, toppled over on Tuesday, prompting a blizzard of jokes and memes on social media at President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a>&#8216;s expense.
A powerful gust of wind knocked down the tree placed in the Ellipse near the White House in the early afternoon, according to the <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2023/11/gusty-winds-topple-national-christmas-tree-near-the-white-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Park Service,</a> but crews managed to pick it back up with a crane within a couple hours.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The National Christmas Tree Has Fallen <a href="https://t.co/1SjgoPBtkn">pic.twitter.com/1SjgoPBtkn</a>
&mdash; philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1729620814729793697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The National Park Service is currently evaluating the National Christmas Tree, which fell over on Nov. 28 during a strong wind gust this afternoon,&#8221; the agency <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/wind-topples-national-christmas-tree/3481258/#:~:text=The%20lighting%20ceremony%20is%20scheduled,%2C%22%20an%20NPS%20statement%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement</a>. &#8220;As the saying goes, &#8216;the show must go on,&#8217; and the NPS and our event partners are looking at all possibilities to ensure a successful event this year.&#8221; NPS later said workers had replaced a <a href="https://twitter.com/MissBeaE/status/1729641286209056974" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;snapped&#8221;</a> cable and declared the tree was standing upright as of 6 p.m. local time.
Though the lighting ceremony is still expected to take place with Biden on Thursday, and other National Christmas Trees have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/11/28/national-christmas-tree-falls-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fallen</a> in the past, X users made the most of the temporary spectacle — with many decking the halls with Biden zingers.
&#8220;National Christmas tree falls DOWN. Perfectly summing up Joe Biden&#8217;s presidency,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/JudiciaryGOP/status/1729619200115655009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the House Judiciary GOP. In another post, the account shared a GIF of Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-biden-falls-while-walking-up-steps-to-get-on-air-force-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tripping while walking up</a> the stairs to board Air Force One.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/pldxKr8GRC">pic.twitter.com/pldxKr8GRC</a> <a href="https://t.co/mz0Leg26dn">https://t.co/mz0Leg26dn</a>
&mdash; House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JudiciaryGOP/status/1729619927559016690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Guess it will have to use the short stairs up Air Force One,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/JennPellegrino/status/1729634715919847564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quipped</a> Newsmax host Jenn Pellegrino.
&#8220;The wind just knocked over the National Christmas tree. Crazy stuff but it’s nice to see something falling at the White House besides Biden,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmyfailla/status/1729623970100486241" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joked</a> comedian and radio host Jimmy Failla.
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&#8220;If the administration was depicted by a Christmas Tree…. This pretty much sums up the entire Biden Presidency,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1729639220786987426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> Eric Trump, one of former President Donald Trump&#8217;s sons. Others <a href="https://twitter.com/exjon/status/1729631168084021248" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a>, &#8220;Biden&#8217;s America,&#8221; opined that the imagery was <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1729626900681629989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;fitting&#8221;</a> for his administration, or made references to the <a href="https://twitter.com/EsotericCD/status/1729623054114857000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;war on Christmas.&#8221;</a>
NPS spokeswoman Chelsea Sullivan <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2023/11/gusty-winds-topple-national-christmas-tree-near-the-white-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told local news outlet WTOP</a> that the tree, which is a <a href="https://mountainmessenger.com/monongahela-national-forest-makes-history-providing-two-christmas-trees-to-the-nation/#:~:text=A%2040%2Dfoot%20Norway%20spruce,Tree%20at%20the%20White%20House." target="_blank" rel="noopener">40-foot Norway spruce</a> from Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, is the first &#8220;cut tree&#8221; used as the National Christmas Tree in 50 years after one planted in 2021 got removed due to a fungal infection.
Meanwhile, the Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony <a href="https://twitter.com/GettyImagesNews/status/1729652567116751206" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took place on Capitol Hill</a> on Tuesday evening with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Winds did not knock down that tree, but some pro-Palestinian demonstrators <a href="https://twitter.com/kellyfphares/status/1729638480634949783" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tried to disrupt</a> the event.

President Joe Biden

‘Biden’s America’: Social Media Lights Up When National Christmas Tree Falls

'Biden's America': Social Media Lights Up When National Christmas Tree Falls

Christmas

joe biden

social media

Actor Julian Sands, 65, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/british-actor-still-missing-after-more-than-a-week-on-snow-covered-mountain-his-family-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disappeared in January</a> after traveling to California’s Mt. Baldy. While the search continues for Sands, many others have disappeared into the wilderness without a trace. Here’s a list of some of the most famous disappearances of all time.
<h2>Bessie and Glen Hyde</h2>
Bessie, 18, and Glen Hyde, 27, were on their honeymoon at the Grand Canyon in the fall of 1928 when they disappeared. They had been boating down the Colorado River with plans to travel through the Grand Canyon. Glen was an experienced boater, while Bessie had no experience. If they made the trip successfully, Bessie would have been the first woman to travel the Colorado river, and if the pair accomplished the tall task, they could receive money and be invited on a lecture tour.
After several months of travel, the couple’s boat was found full of supplies and unharmed, but with no sign of the Hydes. The couple has never been found.
<h2>Dennis Martin</h2>
Dennis Martin, 6, was camping with his brother, father, and grandfather on Father’s Day weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1969. On June 14, he and his brother, along with children from a separate family camping with them, hid behind some bushes to scare the adults. But after the other children returned to the campsite without Dennis, his father became concerned and started looking for him, to no avail.
National Park Service rangers were called in to assist in the search, and eventually, the National Guard and even the Green Berets joined in the search for the missing child, but he was never found. The only traces ever found were a shoe and a sock believed to belong to Dennis, and matching tracks leading to a stream.
<h2>Douglas Legg</h2>
Douglas Legg, 8, was about to go on a hike with his family in the Adirondack Forest Preserve’s Santanoni Preserve on July 10, 1971. His uncle, however, noticed some poison ivy and told the young boy to wear long pants, so Legg ran the short distance back to the family’s cabin to change clothes.
Legg knew the area, since the family owned the cabin, and was referred to as a “mini-woodsman,” so it was unlikely he simply became lost. But after one of the Adirondacks’ largest search and rescue operations, which included more than 600 people looking for the young boy, no trace was ever found.
<h2>Paul Braxton Fugate</h2>
Paul Fugate’s disappearance is especially strange because he was a Park Ranger at Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona. He disappeared in 1980 at the age of 41 after his shift ended and he went for a hike.
Fugate was the only permanent staff member at the park, so it is doubtful he would have left the seasonal employees to close the park. To make matters worse, Fugate was the person that would have organized the search and rescue, but without him, the local sheriff’s department and National Park Service (NPS) had to step in.
NPS claimed Fugate must have walked off his job, so it denied his wife the pension benefits she should have received. Five years later, those benefits were reinstated after a review of the case.
<h2>Stacy Arras</h2>
Stacy Arras, 14, along with her father and a group of others were on a week-long trip through Yosemite National Park. They were riding mules and had reached their last camp on the High Sierra Loop Trail at Tuolumne Meadows on July 17, 1981. Arras left her cabin with her camera to photograph the landscape but never returned.
Gerald Stuart, 77, was also on the tour and had walked with Arras for nearly half an hour before returning to camp to rest. Others saw the two together and witnessed Stacy continue on after Gerald sat down on a boulder. An extensive search of the area turned up nothing. No one even found any cigarettes either, even though Stacy was a smoker.
What makes Stacy’s case even more mysterious is the National Park Service’s refusal to turn over documents relating to her case.
<h2>Polly Melton</h2>
Thelma Pauline “Polly” Melton, was 58-years-old, out of shape, a heavy smoker, and taking medication for high blood pressure and nausea. Still, she loved to hike, and took to a simple trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 25, 1981. She went with two women, but apparently walked ahead of them and went over a knoll and was never seen again.
Melton carried nothing with her, not even her purse, because it was supposed to be a short, easy hike. No one heard from her, but a year later, a check was cashed in her name. Police never said whether it was her signature on the check.
Some speculated that Melton simply ran off, leaving her ill husband to start a new life with a new lover, but with no trace of her, no one can be sure.
<h2>John Devine</h2>
John Devine, 73, was visiting Olympic National Park in northern Washington State in 1997 when he disappeared. Despite his age, Devine was an experienced long-distance hiker who was camping with his friend, Greg Balzer. The two split up on September 7, 1997, so that Devine could hike and Balzer could hunt.
When Devine didn’t return, a search was called, but the search was called off when weather conditions deteriorated. Devine was never found.
<h2>Ruthanne Ruppert</h2>
Ruthanne Ruppert, 49, was vacationing in Yosemite National Park in August 2000 when she woke up with an eye infection. She received treatment, but missed a change to backpack with a group crossing the park. Needing to find a new way to spend her vacation, Ruppert rented a tent cabin and went shopping to stock up on supplies.
It’s unclear exactly when she went missing, but at some point she simply disappeared, leaving her supplies behind. A search and rescue crew found no trace of her.
Eight years later, Ruppert’s backpack was found in a drainage area nearly eight miles away from where she rented the tent cabin. No one knows how it ended up there or what happened to Ruppert.
<h2>Michael Ficery</h2>
Michael Ficery, 51, went for a hike at Yosemite National Park on June 15, 2005, at one of the park’s less popular trails. When he didn’t return home after his hiking permit expired, his family called in a search, which became so massive even the U.S. Marine Corps helped.
Searchers found Ficery’s bag, which still contained his map, camera, and some water. His family insisted he would never leave his bag while hiking, and feared the worst. In the nearly two decades since Ficery disappeared, no other trace of him has been found.
<h2>Barbara Bolick</h2>
Barbara Bolick, 55, was hiking with a family friend, Jim Ramaker, in the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana on July 18, 2007, when the pair stopped to take a break at a viewpoint at the end of a 2.7-mile-long trail. The pair spoke with some other hikers at the viewpoint before admiring the view of the mountains.
Bolick began walking back down the trail while Ramaker took one last look at the scenery. When he started down the path less than a minute later, he couldn’t find Bolick, and she didn’t answer when he called her name. He even blew a whistle trying to get her attention, but had no luck.
Ramaker, believing Bolick couldn’t get lost on a trail she knew well, returned to their vehicle, thinking she simply walked on without him. But Bolick was never seen again.
<h2>Morgan Heimer</h2>
Morgan Heimer, 22, worked for a rafting company known as Tour West, which operated along the Colorado River. On June 2, 2015, Heimer was helping rafters return from a swim when he apparently went to take a break. The lead tour guide would later say he was walking away from a cliff, and when he returned to look for Heimer, he was nowhere to be found. At first, no one was worried, since Heimer was experienced and knew the area. He was also wearing a life jacket, but when he didn’t return that evening for dinner, a search was called, but no trace of him was ever found.
<h2>Tom Messick</h2>
Tom Messick, 82, was hunting with a group on Lily Pond in New York on November 15, 2015, when he vanished. Messick, who had served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper, was half deaf and missing an eye due to an explosion he suffered in his early 20s, but he was an avid and experienced hunter. Because of his disabilities, he was told to stay still while others in his group drove game toward him and several other elderly men. Somehow, Messick disappeared, and a search found neither him nor any of the belongings he had with him that day.
<h2>Floyd Roberts</h2>
Floyd Roberts, 52, regularly visited the Grand Canyon with his friend, Ned Bryant. In 2016, the duo once again went to the canyon, along with Bryant’s daughter. The three were hiking on a trail that split, with Bryant and his daughter taking one path with plans to meet up with Roberts at the other end.
But when the Bryants arrived at the other side, Roberts wasn’t there. They couldn’t find him when they hiked the path he had taken, and couldn’t find him back at their camp. They hiked until they could find cell service and reported their friend missing, but a search team found nothing.
<h2>Cian McLaughlin</h2>
Cian McLaughlin, 27, was an Ireland native visiting Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in June 2021. He was reportedly heading toward Taggart Lake before he disappeared, and was only reported missing when he didn’t show up for work when he was supposed to return.
His car was found in the area he was last seen, and a search was called, but 45 helicopter searches and others found no trace of the man.

Autumn in Yosemite National Park, California

14 Of The Most Mysterious Wilderness Disappearances Of All Time

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Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys announced it would close beginning Monday in response to a flood of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/migrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migrants</a> arriving on its shores.
The park, located on the Western extreme of the Florida Keys, announced the closure on Monday. The National Park Service said in a statement that it was closed in order to respond to nearly 300 migrants who arrived on the island in recent days. The migrants mostly arrived from the communist island nation of Cuba by boat.
&#8220;On January 2 at 8 am, Dry Tortugas National Park will temporarily close to public access while law enforcement and medical personnel evaluate, provide care for and coordinate transport to Key West for approximately 300 migrants who arrived in the park over the past couple of days,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/news/drto-closure-jan-2-2023.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Park Service</a> said in its statement.
&#8220;The closure, which is expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants. Concession-operated ferry and sea plane services are temporarily suspended.&#8221;
&#8220;Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, the park has recently seen an increase in people arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park,&#8221; the NPS added. &#8220;Park first responders provide food, water and basic medical attention until the Department of Homeland Security arrives and takes the lead. While the park is closed, vessels may seek safe harbor in the designated areas within the one nautical mile anchoring zone around Garden Key, including Bird Key Harbor. There will be no visitor services available while the closure is in effect and emergency services will be extremely limited. All closures will remain in place until further notice.&#8221;
Walter N. Slosar, the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Miami Sector, tweeted that Border Patrol agents had encountered at least 200 migrants on New Year&#8217;s Eve and New Year&#8217;s Day alone, in more than a dozen encounters.
&#8220;During the past 24 hours, U.S. Border Patrol agents &amp; LE partners responded to 5 migrant landings throughout the Florida Keys and encountered 88 Cuban migrants,&#8221; Slosar <a href="https://twitter.com/USBPChiefMIP/status/1609257012226818048?s=20&amp;t=UCfSvEbVcOZl17OjHuyOdw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted Saturday</a>.
&#8220;New Year&#8217;s Day in Florida: Over 160 migrants have been encountered today in the #Florida Keys,&#8221; he added <a href="https://twitter.com/USBPChiefMIP/status/1609602482602389504?s=20&amp;t=7zHT-T0rEiMAhLVZM4Naqw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday</a>. &#8220;Border Patrol agents with support from federal, state, and local LE partners responded to 10 migrant landings since midnight.&#8221;
Rear Admiral <a href="https://twitter.com/HSTF_Southeast/status/1609657848400592903?s=20&amp;t=sCww1T_9WMuoXpHaud6o3Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brendan C. McPherson</a>, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District &amp; director of Homeland Security Task Force &#8211; Southeast, added in a separate statement on Twitter that the migrants would be removed and provided with food and water and basic first aid, before being transferred to the custody of Border Patrol for processing. “Irregular, illegal maritime migration is always dangerous and very often deadly. #DontTakeToTheSeas,” he said.
The park, about 100 acres in area, is a small archipelago about 70 miles from Key West. It is made up of the seven Dry Tortuga islands, and the incomplete naval fort and former prison, Fort Jefferson. Most of the park is water, and it is home to some of the best-preserved coral reefs in the Florida Keys. The Park is renowned for its abundant tropical marine life and birds.

Dry Tortugas National Park

National Park In Florida Keys Closes Indefinitely After 300 Migrants Land On Shores

Dry Tortugas National Park Closes Indefinitely After 300 Migrants Land On Shores

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