Ansel F. (Ansel Franklin) Hall

Born in 1894, Ansel Franklin Hall became an American forester, conservationist, and park administrator whose career was closely tied to the early development of the National Park Service. He is especially remembered for helping build the Service's interpretive and educational programs, making parks more understandable and inviting to the public.

Hall worked in Yosemite and Sequoia and became the National Park Service's first Chief Naturalist. He promoted museum exhibits, nature trails, publications, and ranger-led interpretation, helping turn park visits into richer learning experiences rather than simple sightseeing.

He also wrote and edited park material for visitors, and his influence lasted well beyond his own era. Hall died in 1962, but he remains an important figure in the history of conservation education in the United States.