National Park Service

National Park Service

The National Park Service preserves many of the most significant natural, historical, and cultural landscapes in the United States. Established in 1916 within the U.S. Department of the Interior, the agency was created to protect places of exceptional national importance while ensuring public access for education, recreation, and inspiration. The founding legislation directs the National Park Service to conserve scenery, wildlife, and historic objects in a manner that leaves them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations, establishing a long-term framework for stewardship of the nation’s shared heritage.

The National Park System today includes hundreds of protected areas across all fifty states and U.S. territories, encompassing national parks, monuments, historic sites, battlefields, memorials, seashores, rivers, and recreation areas. These designations reflect the wide range of environments and historical themes represented within the system, from geologic landscapes and wildlife habitats to sites associated with exploration, conflict, scientific discovery, architecture, and cultural tradition. Collectively, these places illustrate the diversity of environments and experiences that contribute to the historical and environmental narrative of the United States.

The National Park Service also plays an important role in research, conservation science, historic preservation, and public interpretation. Through partnerships with local communities, scholars, and conservation organizations, the agency supports preservation efforts beyond park boundaries while encouraging broader understanding of cultural landscapes and ecological systems. By protecting both natural environments and historic sites, the National Park Service provides a framework for understanding the connections between geography, history, and national identity across a wide range of landscapes and time periods.