Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales, the film is a story of people from every conceivable background—rich and poor, soldiers and scientists, natives and newcomers—who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

Investigate the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and others to preserve and protect pristine lands.

Encounter the growing numbers of visitors to the parks.

Examine the proliferation of protected lands and the protection of predatory animals.

Examine the radical idea of creating national parks for the enjoyment of everyone.

Learn about the federal agency created to protect the parks and the fight over the Grand Canyon.

Learn about the changes to the national parks during the Great Depression and World War II.

Terry Tempest Williams talks about what the Grand Tetons mean to her.

Obata discusses Nature and it's impact on his art.

Dayton Duncan talks about seeing the lava flow in Hawaii.

Ranger Gerard Baker talks about the parks being real America.

George Melendez Wright changed how the Park Service preserved wildlife.

President Theodore Roosevelt travels to the Grand Canyon.

The Civilian Conservation Corp worked on National Parks Service projects under FDR.

Explore the early days of Yosemite National Park, and the experiences of President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir in Yosemite Canyon.

Writer Ruth Kirk muses on the the awe-inspiring nature of the Grand Canyon, and the effect that it has on a person who chooses to float the river.

Over a montage of images of the country's most spectacular landscapes, writer Dayton Duncan talks about the notion that is at the heart of the park idea: namely that the people own the land. The magnificent views of mountains, waterfalls and canyons belong not to an exclusive few, but to everyone and this is what makes it a truly democratic idea.

At the entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a stone arch inscribed with the words: "For the Benefit and enjoyment of the people". Listen to park ranger, Shelton Johnson, as he discusses his arrival at Yellowstone and what those words mean to him.