JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Twentynine Palms, California -
Joshua Tree National Park has recently submitted a framed print by well known Joshua Tree nature/wildlife photographer David Jesse McChesney to the Washington DC Offices of the National Park Service, for inclusion in an existing collection of stunning photographic images depicting our national parklands. The gallery of images is located in NPS Headquarters area of the “Main Interior Building," also known as the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street, NW.
McChesney became aware that Joshua Tree National Park was not represented in this collection of images when he visited Washington DC and the Main Interior Building in September, 2012 on behalf of the California Desert Protection Act. Among many stops, he made a point to visit the Interior Building which houses central offices of the National Park Service to view the gallery of images and take note of print sizes and framing styles. Upon his return to the High Desert, McChesney contacted Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Mark Butler to investigate options for submitting a photo of Joshua Tree. After examining a collection of McChesney’s images of the Joshua Tree National Park, the print “Joshua Trees near Hidden Valley" was selected.
The enlarged color image was mounted by well-known framer Alfredo Villegas, of Hemet. Superintendent Butler stated, “the entire project has been funded by public donations made at national park visitor centers, and we are delighted that those who love Joshua Tree National Park will now be able to experience it by viewing this beautiful image when they are visiting our nation’s capital."
McChesney stated “I am both honored and delighted by the selection of my image to represent Joshua Tree National Park in this wonderful collection… it is especially gratifying after spending several decades photographing 55 of our nation’s national parks."
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
