The hardware pinned to a Park Ranger's chest holds more than just authority; it contains a chemical record of American history. By using XRF Spectrometry to scan over 240 historic badges, curators are discovering that 'German Silver' contains no silver and 'Gold Filled' isn't what it sounds like. This metallurgical detective work reveals how the Great Depression and toxic industrial materials like cadmium shaped the very symbols of our National Parks.