But it is not a geologic, or natural, history of the parks. Although these areas existed on their own for millions of years, and native inhabitants were quite aware of them for thousands of years, Burns’ film picks up as these spaces are beginning to fall under the gaze and potential exploitation of the ever-growing new country of “America.” It begins in 1851, as European settlers are spreading west across the continent and discovering for the first time one breathtaking natural wonder after the next, and starting to think about how best to use or preserve them, beginning a national discussion that has continued up to now.

Unique for Burns’ camera — with which we most likely associate intimately and patiently studied archival photographs, film footage and personal interviews — is the plentiful array of vast, epic shots of nature here. But this does not turn into a simple nature documentary or travelogue. Bringing to life the already spectacular images of America’s 58 national parks and their wildlife are the equally incredible stories of the people who helped create, fight for, maintain and carry on this American tradition of making such open spaces available to all Americans, not just the wealthy.

As he has done before in tackling other subjects that have shaped our country, from baseball and jazz to the Civil War and World War II, Burns is less interested here in presenting the dry facts about these events than in using them — and the touching, dramatic and sometimes funny stories of the people from the periods chronicled — as stepping stones to address topics that have been with the country throughout its history. And the story of the national parks touches upon several themes that resonate in America yet today, from race and gender to politics and the conflict between civilization, exploitation and the natural world. Burns has a knack for mining intimate, unknown stories out of events that one would think had already been covered to death, and he continues that here. It’s an educational and emotional journey through America’s natural and human landscape, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see national park attendance spike in the months after this film airs.