Episode
How FDR's Depression-Era 'Tree Army' Built America's National Parks
- Published
- May 28, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1634
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- https://twochickswithhikingsticks.com
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Summary
In 1933, with 25% of Americans out of work and the land itself in crisis, FDR launched one of the most ambitious — and successful — programs in American history: the Civilian Conservation Corps. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the CCC — how it was created in just 10 days, how 3 million young men were put to work across America's most iconic landscapes, and how the structures they built with their own hands still stand in our national parks today. We cover: → The twin crises of the Great Depression and environmental collapse that forced FDR's hand → How Congress approved the CCC in just 10 days — the fastest peacetime mobilization in U.S. history → What daily life was really like in CCC camps: $30/month wages, Army discipline, and raging homesickness → The monumental work done in Shenandoah, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, and beyond → The "NPS Rustic" architectural style the CCC spread to hundreds of parks nationwide → The complicated story of race, segregation, and the 250,000 Black men who served → The stories, poems, and personal accounts left behind by the men themselves If you've ever hiked a trail, crossed a stone bridge, or stood at an overlook in a national park — you've likely seen the work of the CCC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.