Landscapes into place: An experiential view of Denali National Park

This study seeks to acquire a better understanding of the visitor experience in Denali National Park. From a humanistic perspective, I focus on the reciprocal relationship between visitors and the place.;The 6.2 million acre park is larger than the state of Massachusetts, and is located in the interior of Alaska. Established in 1917, the park's eminence stems from three sources: its importance as an international biosphere reserve; its popularity as a distant, wild, and scenic, "one of a kind" national park; and its symbolic value as a vast, pristine wilderness within America's last frontier.;I employ the concept of "place" as the integrating theme in this research. My conception of place includes a historical, physical, and cultural component, each of which I examine in detail, then link together to appreciate the full dimensionality of Denali and the visitor experience therein.;I apply a wide range of methods, approaches, and techniques to unveil the most distinguishing characteristics of the park from the visitor's perspective. These distinctive features provide the identity for Denali, and constitute the "spirit of the place." Visitors develop a corresponding "sense of place" based on their experience, their interpretation of the "spirit of Denali," and their subsequent ability to position this conception within a larger context within their own mental framework. To understand this process, I employ observation, questionnaires, interviews, and participant observation. Thus, I acquire data from various perspectives along a continuum, ranging from the position of the "detached outsider" to the "immersed insider.";This research makes several noteworthy contributions. It provides the first substantial geography of the park since the USGS study in 1910; it illuminates the value of Denali as a therapeutic landscape, capable of enhancing some combination of physical, mental, and spiritual healing; it demonstrates the utility of applied historical and cultural geography for addressing environmental problems and management concerns; it provides a conception of "place" and a framework that can be applied elsewhere; and it effectively blends "traditional" and "new" cultural geographies to provide a more insightful and comprehensive analysis of Denali National Park and the visitor experience therein.