1. Remembering Stephen T. Mather
Just Minutes Away: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Dry
Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park
By Bryan Palacio,
Greening Youth
Intern at Everglades
National Park
When Gerriet Arthur
Janssen walks into a
National Park, he immediate-
ly seeks out the oldest Ranger
on duty to ask them about the
Stephen Mather plaque. This
request sometimes garners befuddled
looks, but not at the Everglades.
In Everglades National Park, entombed in lime-
stone, you will find a plaque honoring Stephen T.
Mather just outside the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. But
just as instrumental as Coe was for the Everglades, Mather was for the National
Park Service. Who then is Stephen Mather and why would someone ask about this
plaque that is often overlooked by many visitors?
“It is a vacation that got a little out of hand you might say,” said Janssen when
asked why he is on a mission to see every Stephen Mather plaque in the country.
Born in 1867, Mather was a self-made millionaire, an avid outdoorsman, a mem-
ber of the Sierra Club, and a friend to the widely renowned John Muir. After a visit
to Yosemite National Park, Mather became disgusted with the poor infrastructure
and maintenance of our National Parks. Soon thereafter he campaigned for the cre-
ation of a national agency to oversee all the national parks at the time. In 1916 his
dream became a reality through the establishment of the National Park Service- an
agency that would run our National Parks. Stephen Mather’s zest and passion for
our National Parks also earned him the honor of being appointed as the first
Director of the National Park Service in 1917. He held this title until 1929 when he
stepped down after suffering a stroke. During his tenure he managed 24 national
parks and 33 national
monuments.
Scripted on his
plaques are the fol-
lowing words: “He
laid the foundation of
the National Park
Service, defining and
establishing the poli-
cies under which its
areas shall be devel-
oped and conserved
unimpaired for future
generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done.”
The plaque at Everglades National Park is not the only one of its kind. Designed
by a world class sculptor named Bryant Baker in the 1930’s, today there are over
50 of these plaques in national parks across our country from Yellowstone to Grand
Canyon and Acadia to Blue Ridge Parkway.
The National Park Service has a goal of making connections with history; be it
human or Earth history. It does an intricate job of highlighting those who were
essential to the rise of the parks and honors them each in their own special way.
This goal is not just for visitors but for employees as well. And although the list of
heroes who have been essential to the development Park Service is undoubtedly
long, his story is as important as any.
“To me, history is often stranger than fiction and lots more interesting,” said
Janssen.
Janssen has felt a connection to Mather ever since he spent four summers working
for the National Park Service in the 60’s, while attending college for his Bachelor’s
and Graduate degree. During this time he was a backcountry fire fighter, packer,
crew foreman, and ranger. He would go on to become a Clinical Anesthesiologist
but his connection with the Park Service was deep and would eventually set him
along another journey in his life, one much less difficult than becoming a doctor
but requiring many years of tedious work nonetheless.
Janssen’s mission of tracking down all the plaques at numerous locations has not
been an easy one. It turns out not all the plaques are on display and some are just
plain missing!
Jenssen has spent
many hours pes-
tering park
employees to
search record
books and ware-
houses, and even
calling upon those
at the Washington
D.C. headquarters
to find them.
“In all this, visit-
ing Parks, talking
with people, and
enjoying the
incredible park
system we have—
that has been the
real fun for me,”
said Janssen.
“This wonderful
journey has given
me a deeper appreciation for the history of our parks, the people that made things
happen, and the folks who take care of them today.”
With the Centennial of the National Park Service looming around the corner, now
is a great time to ask: if Mather was such an essential piece, why is it that few seem
to know about him.
A plaque is a great way to remember someone. But keeping alive their story is an
even better way to honor them. According to Park Ranger Sabrina Diaz, that’s
where her staff come into play.
“One of our primary roles as interpretive park rangers, is to bring the stories of
the Everglades, and the National Park Service to life. It’s our job to not only keep
the legacy of people like Stephen Mather alive, but to encourage the American
people regardless of their age or background to be modern day “Stephen Mather’s”
or “Marjory Stoneman Douglas’”! We want our history to inspire today’s genera-
tion to take care of these special places.” said Diaz.
“Each Park has a person or small group of zealots who went to the ends of the
earth to have their pet project protected,” said Janssen. “It’s a great job. Great place
to work. And a worthy task.”
4A SOUTH DADE NEWS LEADER MARCH 20, 2015
The Mather plaque located on the Southern rim of the Grand Canyon. NPS Photo
A look inside the SEKI warehouse.
Stephen T. Mather
The plaque memorializing Mather.