Freedom Riders National Monument

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

08/24/2026

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our next in-person Exhibit Design Meeting for the Greyhound Bus Depot. Join us to learn more about happenings at Freedom Riders National Monument

🗺️Where: Historic Greyhound Bus Depot, 1031 Gurnee Ave, Anniston, AL 36201
🗓️When: Tuesday, August 25
🕠Time: 5:30–7 pm

The design team, Healy Kohler Design, will present draft exhibit designs for the Greyhound Bus Depot and Mural Building during the meeting. The National Park Service will also share updates on the National Monument and be available for questions.

Image: NPS Photo Superintendent Herts speaking at the 65th Commemorative Event.

08/18/2026

Freedom Riders National Monument invites you our next in-person Exhibit Design Meeting.

🗺️Where: Historic Greyhound Bus Depot, 1031 Gurnee Ave, Anniston, AL 36201
🗓️When: Tuesday, August 25
🕠Time: 5:30–7 pm

The design team, Healy Kohler Design, will present draft exhibit designs for the Greyhound Bus Depot and Mural Building during the meeting. The National Park Service will also share updates on the National Monument and be available for questions.

07/31/2026

The Greyhound Bus Depot/Visitor Center will be closed Tuesday August 4, 2026. Visitors on this day can still access park maps, the passport stamp, and junior ranger materials at the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center located at 1330 Quintard Avenue, Anniston, AL 36201. Sorry for the inconvenience.

The Greyhound Bus Depot/Visitor Center will be open our normal hours on Wednesday August 5 and Thursday August 6, 2026, from 10 am to 4 pm.

06/23/2026

We’re Hiring!
We are looking to fill two key positions at Freedom Riders National Monument.

Supervisory Park Ranger (Interpretation)
📍 Location: Freedom Riders National Monument / Anniston, Alabama
📅 Applications open until July 1, 2026, or the first 100 applicants
In this role, you will serve as program manager and supervise the interpretation staff at Freedom Rides National Monument and Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
Apply on USAJobs:
👉https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873469800

Park Ranger (Interpretation)
📍 Location: Freedom Riders National Monument / Anniston, Alabama
📅 Applications open until July 6, 2026, or the first 100 applicants
In this role, you will develop and present interpretive and educational programs.
Apply on USAJobs:
👉 https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873855100

Come be part of the team helping care for our American history.

05/13/2026

On Saturday, May 9, Mother's Day Weekend, we held a commemorative event to honor the Freedom Riders. The Anniston Star captured some great photographs of the event found at: https://www.annistonstar.com/slideshows/photo-gallery-freedom-riders-return-to-anniston-for-65th-anniversary-commemoration/collection_b90ca26b-f4d8-4994-b74a-f281267958fa.html

This wonderful event couldn't have been possible without a lot of help. Freedom Riders National Monument would like to thank the following: Anniston Mayor Ciara Smith, Director of Public Relations Jackson Hodges, City of Anniston Staff, We Shall Someday Project, Anniston Police Department, Freedom Riders Training Academy Board, County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County EMA, Anniston Fire Department, Evans Flower Shop, Freedom Rides Museum, Greater Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, Junior League of Anniston-Calhoun, Spirit of Anniston, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and various other organizations.

We would also like to thank other National Park Service sites who helped us with our event.
Little River Canyon National Preserve, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, and Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who came out to spend the day with us and everyone who was with us in spirit.

05/09/2026

Today is the day! Come over and join us in celebrating and commemorating the Freedom Riders. Please come prepared for the weather.

From 10 am to 12 pm the Greyhound Bus Depot will be open. Hear from Freedom Riders Joan Trumpauer-Mulholland and Dave Dennis or join a park ranger on a walk to the Trailways Mural.

From 1:30 pm to 4 pm, hear from honored speakers including Superintendent Herts, State Representative Dr. Barbra Boyd, Keisha Person (Charles Person's daughter), Jerrick Lewis (John Lewis's nephew), Robbie Thomas (Dr. Henry "Hank" Thomas's daughter), and more. Stay for a performance from We Shall Someday and a commemorative bell ringing ceremony.

From 5 pm to 8 pm, hear from honored Speakers including Georgia Calhoun and Teresia Hall (Freedom Riders Training Academy Board), Freedom Riders Dr. Lenora Taitt-Magubane and Bob Zellner, and more. Stay for two songs from We Shall Someday and a performance by DJ Cadillac. Meet and greet with park rangers and Freedom Riders.

Events are planned throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm.

05/08/2026

Just one more day! Come over and join us in celebrating and commemorating the Freedom Riders.

From 10 am to 12 pm the Greyhound Bus Depot will be open. Hear from Freedom Riders Joan Trumpauer-Mulholland and Dave Dennis or join a park ranger on a walk to the Trailways Mural.

From 1:30 pm to 4 pm, hear from honored speakers including Superintendent Herts, the Honorable Dr. Barbra Boyd, Keisha Person (Charles Person's daughter), Jerrick Lewis (John Lewis's nephew), Robbie Thomas (Dr. Henry "Hank" Thomas's daughter), and more. Stay for a performance from We Shall Someday and a commemorative bell ringing ceremony.

From 5 pm to 8 pm, hear from honored Speakers including Georgia Calhoun and Teresia Hall (Freedom Riders Training Academy Board), Freedom Riders Dr. Lenora Taitt-Magubane and Bob Zellner, and more. Stay for two songs from We Shall Someday and a performance by DJ Cadillac. Meet and greet with park rangers and Freedom Riders.

Events are planned throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm.

05/08/2026

Only one more day until our 65th Anniversary Event for the Freedom Riders! Join us this Saturday to honor their legacy. Events are planned throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm.

05/07/2026

May 8, 1961: Charles Person tried to get a shoeshine in Charlotte’s Union Station. Mr. Person was told no and decided to wait in the whites-only shoeshine chair until there was a change in policy. He was chased off when a policeman arrived and threatened to handcuff him and haul him off to jail.

After Charles shared the story with his fellow riders, Joe Perkins agreed to sit in the shoeshine chair until someone arrested him. He became the first Freedom Rider arrested on the ride. Joe spent two nights in jail before he rejoined his fellow riders in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Join Freedom Riders National Monument on May 9, 2026, for a commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides. Events will occur throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm.

05/07/2026

Just two more days until our 65th Anniversary Event for the Freedom Riders! Join us this Saturday to honor their legacy. Events are planned throughout the day. Visit the event website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/frri/planyourvisit/65th-anniversary.htm.