Conrad Wirth
Encyclopedia
Conrad L. Wirth was an American administrator. He served as the director of the National Park Service
between 1951 and 1964.
Wirth was born in Hartford, Connecticut
; his father was park superintendent for the city, and later for Minneapolis. Conrad earned a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape gardening from Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts
). He first came to Washington, D.C., area to work for the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and he joined the NPS in 1931. With the coming of the New Deal
he supervised the service's Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) program in the state parks. His administrative ability made him a successor to Director Arthur E. Demaray
, whom he served as associate director before advancing to the top job in December 1951. Wirth's crowning achievement was Mission 66
, a 10-year, billion-dollar program to upgrade park facilities and services by the 50th anniversary of the NPS in 1966. After the 1961 change of administrations, Wirth fell out of favor with Secretary of the Interior
Stewart L. Udall, and departed in early 1964.
He went on to supervise the Interior Department's CCC program. A member of the National Geographic Society
's Board of Trustees, he was also active in conservation and park Service alumni affairs. He died in his sleep at a nursing home in 1993.
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
between 1951 and 1964.
Wirth was born in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
; his father was park superintendent for the city, and later for Minneapolis. Conrad earned a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape gardening from Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
). He first came to Washington, D.C., area to work for the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and he joined the NPS in 1931. With the coming of the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
he supervised the service's Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
(CCC) program in the state parks. His administrative ability made him a successor to Director Arthur E. Demaray
Arthur E. Demaray
Arthur Edward Demaray was an American administrator and brief Director of the National Park Service....
, whom he served as associate director before advancing to the top job in December 1951. Wirth's crowning achievement was Mission 66
Mission 66
Mission 66 was a US National Park Service ten-year program that was intended to dramatically expand Park Service visitor services by 1966, in time for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Park Service....
, a 10-year, billion-dollar program to upgrade park facilities and services by the 50th anniversary of the NPS in 1966. After the 1961 change of administrations, Wirth fell out of favor with Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior may refer to:* The United States Secretary of the Interior* The Secretario de Gobernación Secretary of the Interior...
Stewart L. Udall, and departed in early 1964.
He went on to supervise the Interior Department's CCC program. A member of the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
's Board of Trustees, he was also active in conservation and park Service alumni affairs. He died in his sleep at a nursing home in 1993.
Further reading
- Wirth, Conrad L. Parks, Politics, and the People. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1980.