The Sacred Role of U.S. National Parks in Civil Religion and Indigenous History

Abraham Lincoln, known as the “Great Emancipator” for his role in abolishing slavery during the Civil War, also made a significant impact on U.S. history with legislation he signed on June 30, 1864. This legislation, known as the Yosemite Valley Grant Act, preserved the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove in California as a park for public use, resort, and recreation for all time.

This act marked the first time the federal government set aside land for its scenic value, creating a model for U.S. national parks. Yosemite officially became the third U.S. national park in 1890, joining a system of picturesque lands that hold spiritual and patriotic significance for millions of Americans.

However, the establishment of national parks had severe consequences for Native American peoples across the continent. The religious justifications for establishing parks contributed to the persecution of Indigenous tribes, a reality that the National Park Service has begun to address in recent decades.

The U.S. National Park System is not only a treasure for its scenic beauty but also holds significance in U.S. civil religion. These sites are considered sacred places in the nation’s civil religion, alongside figures like George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr., the U.S. flag, and national holidays like Independence Day.

The early national parks, established as products of Manifest Destiny, played a role in the westward expansion of the United States at the expense of Native American nations. The beauty of these sites affirmed the belief of many Americans that the U.S. was exceptional and divinely favored.

In recent years, the National Park Service has made progress in acknowledging Native American connections to parklands and addressing the history of Manifest Destiny and Indigenous peoples’ exclusion. Initiatives to facilitate tribal co-management of federal lands and restore bison herds on Native American lands are steps towards reconciliation and healing.

Overall, the National Park Service is working towards a more inclusive and democratic civil religion by amplifying Native voices in the parks and promoting a deeper understanding of Native American culture and history.