In 2024, the nation will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Gila Wilderness in southwest New Mexico. As the first designated wilderness area in America (and the world), it seems only fitting that the nation should honor the person who first advocated for it — the great naturalist Aldo Leopold. His efforts spearheading the designation of wilderness areas, along with his “Land Ethic,” and countless other contributions to the “consciousness of ecological conservation” is worthy of establishing a multiple-location National Historical Park in his memory.
“A land ethic expands the definition of “community” to include not only humans, but all of the other parts of the Earth, as well: soils, waters, plants, and animals – “the land”. In a land ethic, the relationships between people and land are intertwined; care for people cannot be separated from care for the land. Thus, a land ethic is a moral code of conduct that stems from these interconnected caring relationships.”
Source: aldoleopold.org
The Aldo Leopold National Historical Park would incorporate the following locations in Iowa, New Mexico, and Wisconsin:
His birthplace and adjacent boyhood home in Burlington, Iowa
His “Mi Casita” Cabin in Tres Piedras, New Mexico
His home in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rio Grande Valley State Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico – championed by Aldo Leopold while living in Albuquerque and formally established in 1983.
His home at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin
His shack and farm in Baraboo, Wisconsin
The Gila Wilderness Aldo Leopold spearheaded and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness named for him, both in New Mexico, are not included because their intent was to remain wild and untouched. Adding a National Historical Park designation to them could risk adverse impacts from increased visitors. Lastly, if Congress doesn’t make this designation, then my suggestion would be that the President officially designate them as individual or collective National Monuments.
Peace!
problogic
Panethos 
Excellent idea!
Do you know what the land status is of all of these places? The Baraboo properties are owned by the Leopold Foundation, obviously Rio Grande Valley is a state park, do you know who owns all the houses?
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Thank you! Both houses in Burlington are now owned by the Leopold Landscape Alliance (http://leopoldlandscape.org) which is a 501c3 organization. The “Mi Casita” cabin in Tres Piedras is owned by the Forest Service and is used for an artist in residency program (Aldo and Estella Leopold Writer-in-Residency) which is jointly administered by the Carson National Forest, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Land Library. It also appears that the cabin can be rented at certain times of the year for overnight stays. The house in Albuquerque is privately owned per the tax maps, though is on the NM State Register of Historic Places.
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Hmmm. With so many of the structures in relatively “safe” ownership, I’m not sure if there would be enough of an incentive or the urgency to create an NHP. You’d need to get private landowner support as well.
I’m a big fan of “travel quests” where you visit every _________ and have a growing directory of such endeavors. Perhaps I should add some more thematic ones, like what would otherwise comprise an Aldo Leopold NHP. Gonna noodle a bit on how to do that…
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We sound alike, in that I like travel quests as well. Hoping to see Aldo Leopold’s cabin in Tres Piedras soon. Saw his home in ABQ several weeks ago and planning on seeing his birthplace and boyhood home in Burlington sometime this year. I guess I’m the sort that would prefer they be under the protection of the NPS, as local nonprofits sometimes run into $ issues. Also prefer not having to scramble at the last minute.
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