Ben Franklin's World is a production of the

O'Mohandro Institute.

Welcome to Ben Franklin's World,

a podcast about early American history with Liz Covert.

The study of history is key to understanding who we are and how we can

affect the better future. Van Franklin's world will introduce you to historical people

and events that have impacted and shaped our present day world. And now, people and

now here's your host Liz Kolar.

Hello and welcome to episode 194 of Ben Franklin's world

the podcast dedicated to helping you,

learn more about how the people and events of our early American past have shaped the

present day world we live in. The National Park Service describes itself as an agency that's meant to take care of all the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience the heritage of the United States.

And yet, for many people, the name National Park Service evokes mental

images of parks like Yellowstone, Granteaten, or even a park like Glacier.

But after its creation in 1916, the National Park Service started adding

battlefields and historic sites to the resources under its protection. So today,

well over a third of the National Park Service Parks and Sites are located in urban areas.

So what do these urban parks look like?

Many of them look like historic houses, monuments, and even collections of sites that have played an important role in United States history.

I mean, think of a place like Independence National Historical Park.

That park looks nothing like the Grand Canyon.

Instead, it encompasses 55 acres in the heart of downtown Philadelphia

...