Before there were national parks, there were artists who helped Americans see the beauty, history, and spirit of these places. From painters capturing sweeping landscapes to sculptors preserving the stories of generations, artists have long shaped how we understand the places we protect. Today, several National Park Service sites are dedicated to celebrating the lives, work, and legacies of artists themselves. At Weir Farm National Historical Park, artists found inspiration in the rolling hills and rural landscapes of Connecticut. The park preserves the home and studios of J. Alden Weir and continues his legacy as a place where artists create today. At Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, visitors can step into the world of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors, whose works captured the people and events that shaped the nation, including the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common. At Thomas Cole National Historic Site, an affiliated area of the Nationa...