Phillip Burton

Phillip Burton. Powerful, Profane, Brilliant, Fierce. , Phil Burton wasn't a moderate man. Elected to Congress from San Francisco in 1964, he fought for workers' rights, for seniors and for people with disabilities, and for the impoverished and under-privileged. Once convinced that creating national parks close to where people live would improve their lived, he fought for park legislation. He fought and he won. , , In 1972, Burton authored the bill that created this park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. He went on to author expansive national parks and recreation acts in 1978 and 1980. The 1978 bill more than doubled national park lands, nearly doubled the wild and scenic river system, and tripled the number of national trails. , , Today, you can enjoy stunning landscapes and historic landmarks on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge because Phil Burton protected them from development. Across the country, Burton's vision has forever influenced the way we, as a nation, view, value, and preserve our national heritage. , , How can we work to improve our community? , , [Left column] , "Phillip Burton was a great intellect and a passionate voice for workers, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities, and was a protector of human rights and the environment. Through his work, the world has been endowed with a lasting legacy of gifts. Years from now, people will continue to benefit from his dedication to a better future." , , Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader , U.S. House of Representatives , , Standing 11 feet high, this bronze memorial statue of Phillip Burton was dedicated on June 15th, 1991. , , [Right column] , His Unmatched Legacy , , Some of the many sites created or expanded through legislation sponsored by Phil Burton: , , National Historic Sites , Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Park, Georgia . Maggie L. Walker National Historic Sie, Maryland . Boston African American National Historic Site, Massachusetts . Women's Rights National Historical Park, New York . Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico . Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawaii . War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam . Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, North Carolina . Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site, Pennsylvania . Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Massachusetts . Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana . Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland and West Virginia , , National Parks and Preserves , Chanel Islands National Park, California . Denali National Park, Alaska . Lake Clark National Park, Alaska . Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska . Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska . Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park, Alaska . Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska . Biscayne National Park, Florida , , National Trails , Oregon National Trail . Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail . Continental Divide National Historic Trail . Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail . Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail . Iditarod National Historic Trail , , National Recreation Areas , Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California . Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California . Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia . Gateway National Recreation Area, New York , , National Seashore , Point Reyes National Seashore, California , , Memorials , Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C. . National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Washington, D.C. . Albert Einstein Memorial, Washington, D.C. . Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C. , , [Bottom row] , Phil Burton's legacy lives on in these, and many other protected sites: , , California , Golden Gate National Recreation Area , , Georgia , Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park , , Alaska , Lake Clark National Park and Reserve , , Oregon , Oregon National Historic Trail , , California , Point Reyes National Seashore