Undiscovered America

My love for America’s natural wonders began at age three during a family road trip from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. Those first glimpses of Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore sparked a lifelong passion for exploring our nation’s remarkable landscapes.

I collect parks like others collect souvenirs, treasuring the experiences and the photographs I create from each journey. Our protected lands, from battlefields to historic sites, form a vast national museum showcasing America’s finest places. Among these, National Parks represent the crown jewels of our natural heritage.

Ask any American about landscapes that define our nation, and they’ll likely name Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, or the Everglades. These parks protect some of Earth’s most extraordinary environments, showcasing an unparalleled diversity of ecosystems. No other country boasts such a rich tapestry of deserts, mountains, forests, coastlines, and wetlands in their natural state.

Yet in my travels, I’ve discovered equally magnificent places that remain relatively unknown. This disparity launched my mission to understand why some of America’s natural wonders receive less recognition and protection than others.

This book documents these overlooked treasures and clarifies federal land designations. Many of these landscapes risk destruction before gaining the appreciation they deserve. Each has the potential to become a National Park; a designation ensuring these wonders endure for future generations.