National Parks are an American treasure

National Park Service Founder Day – August 25

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Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash

On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park.

Without the National Park Service Organic Act, the United States would not have National Parks.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act to establish “the National Park Service [(NPS)] as an agency under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior with the stated purpose of promoting use of national park lands while protecting them from impairment. Specifically, the Act declares that the National Park Service has a dual mission, to conserve park resources and provide for their use and enjoyment “in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired” for future generations.” (https://bit.ly/3hbEBmp)

The properties managed by the NPS are collectively called the National Park System. These include Yellowstone National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The purpose of National Park Service Founder Day on August 25 is to highlight the efforts of the National Park Service and promote the conservation and preservation of nature. If you can not visit a National Park, you can take a virtual tour, learn about the history behind the National Parks, and share photos of National Parks on social media.

Visit the National Park Service homepage here: https://www.nps.gov/index.htm