camp-fire talks, and in preparing nature notes. With the completion of the new museum building ideal lecture room, library, and other facilities are available for the use of the school. LECTURES ON PARK SUBJECTS Lectures on national park subjects are given nightly around the camp fires and in the museums, hotels, and camps by the nature guides and park naturalists, as well as by visiting scientists. As the majority of these engaged in this work are or have been members of the faculties of colleges and other institutions of learning, the information disseminated is accurate. The lectures are delivered in popular form, which makes them intelligent to the layman as well as to the student of science. MUSEUMS IN THE PARKS Particularly keen interest is manifested in museum expansion in the national parks, and exhibits are gradually being collected even for those parks which as yet have no adequate museum buildings. The cooperation of the American Association of Museums in this cause has been invaluable, both by constructive criticism and furnishing inspiration to the service's forces. The new Yosemite Museum, which was made possible through the efforts of the American Association of Museums, as described above, was opened early in the spring. An exhibition of early historical relics occupies the first floor of the building. The museum is headquarters for the nature guide service as well as for the field. school of natural history. The park naturalist staff spent much time during the past winter in moving exhibits from the old temporary building and preparing a number of new exhibits. Through the Association of Museums the services of a taxidermist were secured, and a number of animal exhibits prepared for installation in the new building. Each month since the completion of the new building the park naturalist has reported the addition of a number of new exhibits. It is estimated that through this museum over 50,000 Yosemite visitors each year have become acquainted with the wild animal, bird, and plant life to be found in this region of the high Sierra, as well as with its historical background. The museum at Yellowstone National Park was reorganized and plans for expansion developed. Many interesting additions to the exhibits were prepared and collected, and it is hoped that a new museum building to house the valuable and important installations already procured may be constructed during the next few years. The first section of the new museum building in the Mesa Verde National Park, constructed through the generosity of a friend of the park, will be extended by the construction of a second wing, made possible by the generosity of another interested friend, who also placed funds available for the purchase of special exhibit cases for use in the section already completed. Considerable progress was made in the collection of museum material in the Mount Rainier, Zion, Sequoia, Rocky Mountain, Glacier and Lafayette National Parks, although all the exhibits are still housed in temporary structures and in some cases tents. USE OF PARKS' EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Recognizing the exceptional advantages offered in the national parks for the study of the natural sciences, a number of educational institutions have conducted their summer field schools in these reservations. During the past summer a party of 25 students of the Princeton Summer School of Geology and Natural Resources, under the leadership of its director, visited Yellowstone, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks, and the Petrified Forest National Monument. The students were required to read selected literature, study maps and folios, and take notes. The observations, reading, and study were supplemented by lectures before going into the field, and by conferences afterwards. Northwestern University held a field course in geology in Glacier National Park, and the division of entomology of the University of California held its field course in entomology in Yosemite National Park. The visit of a party of students in geology at Colby College to Lafayette National Park is a yearly event. NATIONAL PARK PAGEANTS Another interesting phase of educational work in the national parks and monuments is the staging of historical and allegorical pageants. The first of these to be presented this year was "Ersa of the Red Trees," presented in the Mariposa Grove of Yosemite National Park. This play is an appeal for the preservation of the noble Sequoia trees, and has been given previously in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park. Another great open-air pageant was presented in the Yosemite in connection with the diamond jubilee anniversary of the park's discovery and depicted the history of the valley during the past 75 years. In the Yellowstone a historical and allegorical pageant was produced, and pageants were also given at the Casa Grande and Pinnacles National Monuments. This work is in charge of the pageant master who was appointed last year. In addition to the above, an interesting and impressive play called "Fire," based on Indian history and mythology, was given at Mesa Verde National Park. The services of local Indians were utilized in producing this play, which was written and staged by the wife of the park superintendent. It has been predicted that this play will in time become the Oberammergau of America. VISUAL EDUCATION Undoubtedly the most important visual educational work carried on by the National Park Service is that provided through the museums and nature guide service in the national parks. This, however, is available only to actual park visitors, and there is a growing demand on the part of schools, clubs, and organizations all over the country for illustrated lectures, or the use of lantern slides and motion-picture film, in order that people who have not had an opportunity to visit the parks may become acquainted with their beauties through these mediums. While its limited personnel permits the giving of only a comparatively few lectures by service officials, it has been possible to stimulate the giving of park talks by lecturers on the outside. In a number of instances it was possible for the service to arrange for park lectures in the auditorium of the Interior Department Building, or in high schools or other public buildings, for the information and enjoyment of the general public. A small supply of lantern slides and photographs, and a very few reels of motion pictures are available in the Washington office for distribution. This material, which has been donated to the service through the generosity of commercial photographers, railroads, and other park friends, is so limited that it is impossible with it to meet all the requests received. With the growing demand for pictorial material of these various kinds one of the urgent requirements of the service is an appropriation to provide an adequate supply of photographs, lantern slides, and motion-picture films for general distribution. In order that information regarding the national parks may be disseminated as widely as possible, during the past year a new policy was adopted which encourages the greater use of the parks as locations by commercial motion-picture operators. This is done under permit, and under restrictions that prevent injury to the natural features of the parks or inconvenience to park visitors. The taking of motion pictures of park scenery for inclusion in general news reels is specially encouraged. ARCHEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS At the Mesa Verde National Park considerable archeological work was carried on. The superintendent of the park is an archeologist of recognized ability and experience, and under his supervision the ruins already excavated are being put in the best possible condition with the funds available. This work was carried on with funds donated to the park two years ago for such work and will be continued with further promised funds. Two square kivas, most unusual in shape, in a spur canyon south and east of Balcony House, were cleared out, and many valuable artifacts were discovered and added to the museum collection. During the entire month of February an excavation camp was maintained at Step House Cave, the site of post-basket-maker culture. Work carried on at Buried House, opposite Fire Temple, brought to light some very interesting relics of this period. Explorations at this latter site were carried on under great difficulties, owing to the dust. The workers, using respirators, were unable to stay in the ruin longer than 30 minutes at a time, and a total of four hours' work a day was all that they could endure. Altogether about 10,000 pieces of post-basket-maker pottery were found. Many of these were assembled and the mended vessels placed in the museum. General restoration and repair work was also accomplished at the historic and prehistoric ruins in the Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruin, Casa Grande, Gran Quivira, Pipe Spring, and Tumacacori National Monuments. This was carried on under the general supervision of the superintendent of southwestern monuments. In addition to the work carried on by the National Park Service, exploration work was carried on by several different organizations. The National Geographic Society continued excavations in the Chaco Canyon National Monument under a new permit issued by the |