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Famous Communication Center within Point Reyes National Seashore Protected |
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NEWS RELEASE
February 22, 2002
Famous Communication Center Protected within the Point Reyes National Seashore
Private Citizen Land Trust Applauds AT&T and Senator Barbara Boxer
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Park Trust applauded American Telegraph & Telephone (AT&T) for their willingness to sell their communications center, located within the Point Reyes National Seashore, to the National Park Service.
"This land was critical to the park unit,” said Paul C. Pritchard, President of the National Park Trust. "It is physically at the heart of the park and played an important role in America's history. Both of these factors meant that it was one of the most critical properties in the acquisition program of this park."
NPT learned that the property was obsolete, but was still owned by AT&T. Working with the National Park Service and California Senator Barbara Boxer, NPT was able to open the door of communication with AT&T that lead to the eventual sale.
"Senator Boxer has always been a champion of the parks. She played a critical role in moving the transfer along," said Pritchard.
The site is approximately 522 prime acres between the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and the Pacific Ocean covered by a series of wire devices, antenna, and a communications building. The National Park Service is in the process of taking down the antennas to prevent birds from flying into the support wires. The entire area is being photographed and documented for historical records.
An interpretive exhibit features AT&T's high seas radiotelephone station, which provides two-way communication between ships on the high seas or aircraft and telephones on land, sea or in the air. Point Reyes was considered the best receiving station of the West Coast. It was at this location that the word was first received on mainland USA that Pearl Harbor was under attack. Other important information was also processed at this center.
The National Park Trust is the only private land conservancy uniquely dedicated to preserving America's national system of parks, wildlife refuges, and historic monuments.
For more information contact:
National Park Trust (NPT)
(202) 548-0500
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.parktrust.org
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