Campmeetings are a religious tradition arising from the Second Great Awakening of the late 1700s and early 1800s. Today, these unique gatherings--part family and community reunion and part spiritual revival--continue with week-long gatherings at campgrounds around the state. This presentation highlights the history of Salem Campmeeting in Covington, which began in 1828. The program provides insight into how the campmeeting has evolved from a gathering of rural local farmers in the early 1800s, through the upheaval of a schism in the Methodist church and the Civil War and into a modern-day religious gathering that attracts attendees from across the country.

No president has had a greater, lasting impact on our national parks than Jimmy Carter. The U. S. National Park System doubled in acreage during the Carter administration. Carter's is the only presidential term to see over 50 new NPS units created, which span a remarkable collection of diverse natural and historical resources.