Writing 120Q: Making Ecology Personal
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National Resources
There are a number of national government agencies that can provide useful information about national parks and forests, natural resources, and historical sites:
- U.S. Department of the Interior"The U.S. Department of the Interior is a Cabinet-level agency that manages America's vast natural and cultural resources."
- United States Department of AgricultureThe USDA "provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management."
- National Park Service"Since 1916, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service with the care of their national parks. With the help of volunteers and park partners, we safeguard these more than 400 places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year."
- List of All National ParksSearchable database that includes all national parks
State & Local Resources
All states and most cities have web pages that you can google that will give you information about local landmarks. Libraries and local historical museums and associations are also excellent places to check. Here is a link to the Northfield Historical Society -- notice the "Research and Collections" link at the top of the page:
More and more localities are posting very tech savvy interfaces that allow you to investigate a place. Here are two examples:
You might also look for the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) web page for your state. Here is a link to the DNR web page for Minnesota: