How FDR's Depression-Era 'Tree Army' Built America's National Parks

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 themselvesIf 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.