An Exaltation of Parks with Steve Kemp

Date and Time

• Sunday, Apr 26, 2026  5pm - 6pm

Location

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Details

Date: April 26th, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Location: Bright Side Bookshop, 18 N. San Francisco St.

Join us in conversation with author Steve Kemp, celebrating his book An Exaltation of Parks. The event will begin at 5:00 PM with a reading and Q&A then a book signing at 6:00 PM. Books will be available for purchase. This is a free event.

About The Book

Uncovering the partnership that saved America's natural treasures
America's national parks are facing unprecedented challenges. With visitation pressures mounting and the National Park Service struggling to keep up, author and former park ranger Steve Kemp looks toward one exceptionally effective historical example of conservation philanthropy and park building--the collaboration between John D. Rockefeller Jr. and NPS legends Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, and Arno Cammerer.
An Exaltation of Parks reveals the inspiring story of this collaboration, showing how the partnership transformed some of America's most cherished national parks, including Acadia, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. It recounts Rockefeller's lifelong dedication to conservation, digging into his own pockets and toiling as a volunteer to achieve his goals for converting private land into public use. Bringing to life the history and significance of America's most magnificent landscapes, this volume is both a tribute to past conservation victories and a call to action for the future, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance to preserve these national treasures for generations to come.