Yellowstone National Park plans to offer a variety of special programs this month in conjunction with the "America's Best Idea" theme of both National Public Lands Day and

the film series by Ken

Burns that will premiere on PBS.

The public is invited to attend one of two previews of the public-television series.

The first will be hosted by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce today at 7 p.m. in the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center.

A second preview will be held Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Map Room of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, hosted by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, at the conclusion of a National Public Lands Day volunteer service project in the park.

Weather permitting, Yellowstone will offer informal live ranger talks over the Old Faithful streaming webcam from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 26 and 27.

Ranger George Heinz will point out erupting geysers and other natural and historic features of the Old Faithful area as well as speak to the "America's Best Idea" theme.

The programs will be available online at www.nps.gov/yell/photosmultimedia/yellowstonelive.htm.

Visitors and park employees are also invited to watch the two-hour live premiere of the PBS series at either the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Map Room or in the auditorium of

the Canyon Visitor Education Center at 8 p.m. on Sept. 27.

The month is capped off by the Eighth Annual Fall Photo Festival, which will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center.

Amateur and professional photographers will share some of the favorite images they have taken of park sites.