Congaree National Park

Abstract

Congaree National Park, located in South Carolina, possesses the last remaining old growth forest in the American South. Congaree is managed as a wilderness area, but the NPS also has a stewardship requirement to the cultural resources within park boundaries. Congaree struggles to balance its wilderness and cultural resource management responsibilities. This thesis will examine the broader conflict between nature and history within the United States National Park Service. It also will explore the factors that initially shaped Congaree’s management policy and then consider how policy evolved with respect to the relationship between wilderness and cultural resource management. Finally, this thesis will explore Congaree’s pathway to a balanced, integrated, and comprehensive management approach for cultural resources and wilderness values.