author
George Cornelius Ruhle
b. 1900
Best known as “Doc” Ruhle, he helped generations of visitors see U.S. national parks with a naturalist’s eye. His books and guides grew out of a long National Park Service career that took him from Glacier and Crater Lake to Haleakala.
1 Audiobook
Hawaii National Park: A Guide for the Haleakala Section, Island of Maui, Hawaii
by George Cornelius Ruhle
About the author
George Cornelius Ruhle (1900–1994) was a National Park Service naturalist and writer whose work was closely tied to the parks he interpreted for visitors. National Park Service history pages describe him as Glacier National Park’s first permanent park naturalist, and later sources from Crater Lake identify him as that park’s chief naturalist from 1940 to 1953.
A National Park Service profile remembers him as “Doc” Ruhle and notes that his academic background included chemical engineering and a Ph.D. in what is now called nuclear physics before he committed himself to park work. He became known for turning science, landscape, and local history into clear public interpretation, whether through guided programs, talks, or printed handbooks.
His published work reflects that practical, visitor-friendly approach. He is associated with titles including Guide to Glacier National Park, Roads and Trails of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and Hawaii National Park: A Guide for the Haleakala Section, Island of Maui, Hawaii.