- Location
- Alaska
- Current protection
- Lake George National Natural Landmark
- Status
- No active campaign
- Tier
- Tier 3 · Smaller national site
- In the book
- Not featured in Undiscovered America
Why should it be a National Park?
Forty-four miles east of Anchorage, Lake George was held back for centuries by the Knik Glacier, and each summer it broke through the ice and drained in a flood down the Knik River before filling again. Few places on Earth showed the power of glaciers so plainly.
The Park Service looked at it four times over thirty years. It deserves to be counted among the natural wonders of Alaska's parks.
The history of National Park Campaigns
Lake George was first proposed for park status in 1937. A 1939 Park Service report found it an interesting phenomenon but not nationally significant enough for a park or monument. The Service studied it again in 1958, 1961, and 1967, when the Anchorage Times proposed park status, and in 1968 it became the first National Natural Landmark in Alaska.
- Distinct National Park attempts
- 4 (1937–39; 1958; 1961; 1967)
- Other designation attempts
- 1 (1968 natural landmark)
Sources
- G. Frank Williss, "Do Things Right the First Time" (NPS, 1985)
- Wikipedia, List of proposed National Parks of the United States
- 1937
Lake George is first proposed for park status.
- 1939
A Park Service report finds it interesting but lacking the national significance for a park or monument.
- 1958, 1961
The Service restudies the lake.
- 1967
The Anchorage Times proposes park status, and the Service studies it again.
- July 26, 1968
Lake George becomes the first National Natural Landmark in Alaska.