Culture History Happy Birthday, Ansel Adams By Russell McLendon Senior Writer University of Georgia Russell McLendon is a science journalist who covers a wide range of topics about the natural environment, humans, and other wildlife. our editorial process Russell McLendon Updated February 19, 2020 Ansel Adams photographed the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. (Photo: U.S. National Archives) Share Twitter Pinterest Email Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community Ansel Adams, the late American photographer and conservationist, was born on Feb. 20, 1902. His sweeping images of U.S. landscapes helped galvanize the country's nascent conservation movement last century, part of a decades-long effort to expand the national park system and popularize the idea of preserving wilderness. This legacy warrants some reflection on his birthday — and since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are about 10,000 "words" to honor Adams' historic contributions to nature conservation: Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Leaves in Glacier National Park, Montana Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Crystal Spring, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico Castle Geyser Coye, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming McDonald Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana Saguaro National Monument, Arizona Unnamed peak, Kings Canyon National Park, California To see more of Adams' indelible imagery from U.S. national parks and monuments — mainly from 1941 to 1942, when he was working under a federal contract — check out these collections kept by the National Archives and the Interior Department. All photos courtesy U.S. National Archives