Books tell Voyageurs National Park’s history

“A Story Written in the Rocks; The Geology of Voyageurs National Park,” written by Chris Hemstad, a Falls teacher and geologist with credit to Leland Grim, a retired professor from Rainy River Community College and biologist at Voyageurs National Park and Tawnya Schoewe, the park’s chief of interpretation, tells a story about change on a scale different from that of human life. It is a story that emerges from the depths of time, enabling the reader to make connections between what was and what is.

In the easy-to-read guide book, the park’s geological features are brought forth for the young and old who want to discover this nation’s natural treasures.

This book was 25 years in the making, a release said. Over the years, several geologists and park staff assisted with the creation of the book that answers questions like: How this area now known as Voyageurs National Park was formed or why the rocks in the northern part of the park differ from those in the southern end of the park.

Family history

“Life at Kettle Falls,” tells the story of the Williams’ family growing up at Kettle Falls through the eyes and ears of author Mike Williams.

From the notorious years, to life with family and friends at the hotel, to the fishing and hunting adventures along the way, this book is a fun read, a release said.

An idea is born

In 2005, Voyageurs National Park staff wrote a long-range interpretive plan identifying educational materials completed to-date and a wish list of projects to develop over the next five to 15 years.

The plan includes the park’s six official interpretive themes: geology, voyageurs and the fur trade, people, scenery, water and plants and animals. These themes, according to a release, are extremely important to park officials as they direct park staff when working on visitor service projects for the public.

In 2009, Jefferson National Parks Association, or JNPA, partnered with VNP to begin operating the bookstores at all three visitor centers within the park. JNPA is a non-profit organization that brings money back to parks for interpretive and educational purposes. When a visitor buys a book, a percentage of that purchase goes back to the park.

Since the partnership began, big changes have occurred in the stores. JNPA is working with park officials to bring the six park interpretive themes to life.

Over the past few years, park officials have chosen to apply returning funds towards the development of publications that will facilitate visitor understanding and knowledge of the park and its resources.

Whether visitors have all day, half a day, a few hours, or 15 minutes to visit the park, they can enter any one of the three VNP visitor center bookstores and leave with a sense of knowing why the park was established. The bookstores reflect Voyageurs National Park and its significance.

Both books can be purchased at any of the park’s three visitor centers or through Jefferson National Parks Association’s online store at www.shopjnpa.com.