National Park Service facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Park Service

National Park Service arrowhead insignia
Guidon of the National Park Service
Agency overview
Formed	August 25, 1916; 110 years ago (1916-08-25)
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	Main Interior Building 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20240, U.S.
Employees	About 20,000
Annual budget	$3.265 billion
Agency executive	Jessica Bowron, Acting Director of the National Park Service
Parent department	United States Department of the Interior
Key document	National Park Service Organic Act
Map

The National Park Service (NPS) is a special group within the American government. It belongs to the United States Department of the Interior. Its main job is taking care of places like national parks and national monuments. It looks after famous natural wonders, exciting hiking spots, and historic places where big moments happened. The United States Congress created the agency on August 25, 1916. Lawmakers passed a law known as the National Park Service Organic Act. The headquarters of the agency is in Washington, D.C..

About 20,000 people work for the service across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Together, these workers look after more than 85 million acres of land and water. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers also help clean up trails and guide guests. The agency works hard to protect wild animals, forests, and old buildings so people can explore them today and in the future.

How the National Park Service Started

Long ago, the United States did not have any system to protect wild nature. When settlers moved across the country, wide open lands were rapidly changed. Some people worried that wild spaces and native animals would disappear forever.

An artist named George Catlin traveled across the Dakota plains in 1832. He was among the first people to suggest that the country build great parks. He wanted government rules to save nature and wildlife for everyone to see.

The Very First National Park

In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law creating Yellowstone National Park. It was the very first national park in the whole world. Because Wyoming was not yet an official state, there was no state government to protect it.

The federal government asked the United States Army to guard Yellowstone. The famous African American soldiers known as Buffalo Soldiers protected the geysers, trees, and animals from poachers and forest fires.

Stephen Mather and the New Law

As more parks opened, there was no single office to run them all. A business magnate and nature lover named Stephen Mather decided to help. Together with a writer named Robert Sterling Yard, he told people about the beauty of national parks.

Their work led Congress to pass the National Park Service Organic Act on August 25, 1916. President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill. Stephen Mather became the very first director of the brand-new agency. The law said the parks must be kept safe so future generations can enjoy them unchanged.

Growing Through New Responsibilities

In 1933, President Herbert Hoover and President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed how the parks worked. A leader named Horace M. Albright suggested that the park service should run famous battlefields.

President Roosevelt agreed and used an executive order to hand over military sites from the War Department. The park service also took charge of monuments run by the Department of Agriculture and city parks around Washington, D.C..

Upgrading Parks with Mission 66

After World War II, many families bought cars and took vacations to the parks. The parks became super crowded, and old roads and restrooms broke down.

In 1951, park director Conrad Wirth came up with a major plan called Mission 66. Supported by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, this ten-year project built modern visitor centers, repaired roads, and fixed up camp sites.

In 1966, director George Hartzog wanted parks to be close to cities too. He helped add new spots like national recreation areas and national lakeshores.

Taking Care of Nature and Wildlife

Park rangers and scientists work every single day to keep nature healthy. Wild plants and animals need large spaces to thrive without human disturbance.

Learning from the Leopold Report

In 1963, a scientist named A. Starker Leopold helped write an important paper called the Leopold Report. The United States Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall, asked for this study to fix wildlife problems.

The report solved big puzzles about animal management. In Yellowstone National Park, huge elk herds were eating all the young trees. In Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park, people had put out every small forest fire.

Scientists learned that stopping every fire actually harmed giant trees like the Giant Sequoia. Those massive trees need natural, gentle fires to open their seed cones and clear room on the forest floor. The report taught rangers to practice good ecosystem management and careful ecological restoration.

Updating Science for Changing Climates

In 2012, director Jonathan Jarvis asked a team of twelve scientists to write an updated report. They published a booklet called "Revisiting Leopold: Resource Stewardship in the National Parks."

The scientists explained that climate change is changing temperatures, water levels, and seasons. The report said rangers need modern tools, like satellite pictures and conservation biology, to care for wild habitats.

The Modern RAD Plan for Nature

Park managers use a special plan called the RAD framework. The letters stand for three different choices rangers can make when nature changes:

• Resist: Rangers fight to keep an ecosystem looking the same as in the past.
• Accept: Rangers let nature change on its own when an area gets warmer or drier.
• Direct: Rangers guide the ecosystem toward a healthy new shape using smart scientific tools.

This plan was created with help from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey. Scientists wrote about it in magazines like BioScience so park caretakers can pick the best plan.

Exploring the Huge National Park System

The National Park System includes all the lands managed by the service. Many people call these famous parks and natural wonders the "crown jewels" of America.

The entire system covers over 85 million acres. The biggest unit of all is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, covering over 13 million acres. The smallest is the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania, which is smaller than a backyard.

Some units are close to other protected areas. The largest affiliated place is the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, while the smallest is the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.

Different parks follow special rules set by Congress or the Antiquities Act. For example, Congaree National Park is protected as a pure wilderness area with few buildings. Meanwhile, Yosemite has managed features like the Badger Pass Ski Area and the O'Shaughnessy Dam.

Numbers Across the System

The park system protects thousands of natural and man-made treasures:

• Over 84 million acres of land.
• More than 4.5 million acres of lakes, reservoirs, and ocean waters.
• Over 85,000 miles of flowing rivers and creeks.
• More than 43,000 miles of ocean and lake shorelines.
• Around 68,000 archeological sites where ancient people lived.
• Over 27,000 historic structures and 21,000 modern buildings.
• More than 12,000 miles of hiking and walking trails.
• About 8,500 miles of paved and unpaved roads.
• Over 120 million museum objects, dinosaur fossils, and historical records.

What Makes an Area a National Park?

Before a new park is made, Congress usually asks the agency to study the land. An area must meet four important rules:

• It must be an outstanding example of a special natural or historic feature.
• It must have great value for teaching American heritage.
• It must offer wonderful chances for outdoor play, learning, or science.
• It must remain clean, healthy, and relatively unspoiled.

The Many Kinds of Park Lands

The agency runs over 400 different areas using more than 20 different labels. Each label explains what makes that site unique.

Wild National Parks

There are 63 official national parks. These protect massive landscapes, deep canyons, glaciers, and rich animal habitats. People visit them to hike, look at wildlife, and camp under the stars.

Amazing National Monuments

National monuments are created to protect a single special object or natural spot. In 1906, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming became the very first one. While the park service runs many, other groups like the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service manage some too.

Preserves and Reserves for the Outdoors

A national preserve looks like a national park, but it allows supervised hunting, fishing, or trapping. Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida and Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas were the first two created in 1974. A national reserve, like the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, is run together with state or town leaders.

Historic Sites and Old Battlegrounds

National historic sites and historical parks protect places where important history happened. These include old forts, homes of presidents, and factories from long ago.

Other spots remember military history. Sites like Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, and Shiloh National Military Park protect famous Civil War grounds. Smaller battlegrounds include Richmond National Battlefield Park, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, and Antietam National Battlefield.

Statues and National Memorials

National memorials honor important leaders or historical events. Many famous ones stand on the National Mall in the capital city, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

Sunny Seashores, Lakes, and Running Rivers

National seashores and lakeshores protect sandy beaches, lighthouses, and ocean life. Cape Hatteras National Seashore was built first in 1937. Other famous shorelines include Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Waterways in the wild and scenic river program are kept free from dams so water runs wild. Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established in 1964 to keep rivers clean for canoeing and fishing.

Big Recreation Areas and Famous Trails

National recreation areas are places built for outdoor fun near big reservoirs and cities. Lake Mead National Recreation Area was the first one. Near cities, you can visit Gateway National Recreation Area in New York or Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California.

The National Trails System protects giant hiking paths. The Appalachian Trail allows people to hike along tall mountain ridges across the eastern United States. Historic trails like the Trail of Tears, the Mormon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail follow routes used by travelers and pioneers long ago.

The service also helps run areas within the National Wilderness Preservation System set up by the Wilderness Act in 1964, and protects ocean zones called marine protected areas.

Visiting National Parks

Hundreds of millions of people take trips to national parks every year to discover nature.

Most Visited Park Sites

The most visited parks welcome millions of guests each year:

• The Blue Ridge Parkway, a winding road through scenic mountain views.
• The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, featuring ocean vistas and famous bridges.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park, filled with mist-covered forests and wildflowers.
• The Gateway National Recreation Area, offering beaches and coastal forts.
• The Gulf Islands National Seashore, with bright white sand and warm waters.
• The Lincoln Memorial, honoring the sixteenth president.
• The George Washington Memorial Parkway, running along the Potomac River.
• The Natchez Trace Parkway, following a historic forest route.
• The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, perfect for boating and swimming.
• The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, featuring red rock canyons and water sports.
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, paying tribute to brave service members.

Park Entrance Fees and Camping

Most park units are free to visit and receive money through taxes. Some very popular parks collect an entrance fee to help keep trails safe and restrooms clean. Drivers can buy an America the Beautiful Pass to visit many parks all year long. Kids who are 15 years old and younger get in free at most sites.

Millions of people sleep overnight under the stars in the parks. Visitors enjoy pitching tents in campgrounds, sleeping in rustic log lodges, driving campers and motorhomes, or hiking out into wild backcountry spots.

Paying for Park Care and Protection

Taking care of huge forests and old buildings requires money from Congress. The budget is split between everyday operations and special long-term projects.

How Park Money Is Spent

The daily operations budget is divided into helpful categories:

• Resource stewardship: Paying scientists, archeologists, and museum experts to protect plants, fossils, and historical relics.
• Visitor services: Funding signs, maps, nature walks, and learning talks led by knowledgeable park rangers.
• Park protection: Supporting safety teams, including law enforcement rangers, United States Park Police, and emergency rescue squads.
• Facility maintenance: Fixing broken trails, repairing paved roads, operating water pipes, and cleaning public facilities.
• Park support: Covering office work, computer equipment, contracts, and job hiring.
• External administrative costs: Paying rent to the General Services Administration and buying postal supplies.

Helpful Conservation Funds

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) helps buy important open lands and grants money to protect historic battlefields. Another fund called the Historic Preservation Fund gives out grants like Save America's Treasures and Preserve America to save old American landmarks.

Helping Local Towns Grow

National parks bring big financial benefits to nearby gateway towns. Visitors buy meals, camp supplies, hotel rooms, and souvenirs. This spending supports hundreds of thousands of jobs for guides, restaurant workers, and store owners across the nation.

Lodges, Cabins, and Food Services

To help visitors enjoy their stay, the park service works with private companies that manage hotels, gift shops, and snack bars under a concession agreement.

Well-known historic hotels include the Wawona Hotel inside Yosemite National Park and the scenic Fort Baker center at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Several major hospitality companies run these lodges:

• Delaware North operates hotels and restaurants at spots like the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.
• Forever Resorts manages cabins and campgrounds at Big Bend National Park, Badlands National Park, Olympic National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Xanterra Travel Collection runs historic lodges at Bryce Canyon National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Death Valley National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Petrified Forest National Park, and Zion National Park.

Renaming Historic Lodges

In 2015, a legal disagreement arose between the park service and Delaware North over the trade names of old buildings in Yosemite. To avoid paying extra fees while the dispute was settled, the park temporarily changed the names of several landmarks.

The historic Ahwahnee Hotel was temporarily called The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Curry Village became Half Dome Village, and the Wawona Hotel was called Big Trees Lodge. The disagreement was resolved in 2019, and the beloved historic names were put back.

Who Works for the Park Service?

Managing millions of acres takes a massive team of people with many different talents.

Park Leaders and Regional Offices

The central office is located in the Main Interior Building near the White House. The leader is the Director of the National Park Service, who is chosen by the president of the United States and approved by the United States Senate.

Under the director, regional offices operate in cities like Anchorage, Atlanta, Lakewood, Omaha, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. The team in New Mexico uses the historic National Park Service Southwest Regional Office building, which is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Important Jobs Across the Parks

A national park needs many kinds of workers to run smoothly:

• Park rangers: Guides who give nature talks, lead tours, and teach kids about wild animals.
• Law enforcement rangers: Special police officers trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to keep guests safe and protect park property.
• Safety crews: Lifeguards, search and rescue squads, dispatchers, and wildland firefighters.
• Scientists: Experts such as any biologist, botanist, or geologist who study flowers, rocks, and wild animals.
• Historians: Museum curators, historians, and archivists who protect old maps, letters, and buildings.
• Building trades: Dedicated teams of carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, along with every skilled heavy equipment operator.
• Planners: Talented experts including an architect, engineer, or landscape architect who design paths and visitor centers.

Parks exist all over the country, from big cities like New York City (Federal Hall), Atlanta (Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site), and San Diego (Cabrillo National Monument), to remote places like Hovenweep National Monument and Aniakchak National Monument in King Salmon, Alaska.

Volunteers-In-Parks Program

The Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program began in 1969. It invites everyday citizens to donate their time. Artists, students, retirees, and local neighbors paint signs, fix trails, and greet tourists. On long trips aboard Amtrak trains, special volunteer guides point out rivers and mountains through the Trails & Rails program.

Artists in the Wild

Parks also run an Artist-In-Residence program. Talented painters, photographers, sculptors, and writers live in a park cabin for several weeks. In exchange, they create new artwork inspired by the forests and host workshops for the visiting public.

The United States Park Police

The United States Park Police is one of the oldest federal police forces in the country. They patrol major urban parklands in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and New York City Parks. Officers on horseback, in police cars, and on boats protect monuments and help visitors stay safe.

Youth Programs for Future Leaders

Young people can gain real-world job skills and protect the outdoors through special student groups:

• The Student Conservation Association (SCA): Formed in 1957, this group offers high school and college students hands-on conservation jobs across hundreds of parks.
• The Corps Network: Young adults follow the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s by building bridges, fixing trails, and clearing brush.
• The Youth Conservation Corps: Teenagers earn a paycheck while helping rangers fix trails and care for plants during summer break.
• The Public Land Corps: Young people help rehabilitate parks and learn about environmental science.

Specialized Preservation Offices

The agency operates several unique divisions that help remember the history of our country.

Research and Training Centers

Specialized centers help protect fragile history:

• The Midwest Archeological Center in Nebraska and the Southeast Archeological Center in Florida study and save ancient tools.
• The Harpers Ferry Center in West Virginia creates signs, movies, and museum displays.
• National Park Service training centers teach new rangers skills for managing crowds and saving historic buildings.
• The Submerged Resources Center uses scuba divers to explore shipwrecks and underwater treasures.
• The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training in Louisiana invents ways to clean and fix stone, metal, and wood.

Recording America's Buildings and Landscapes

During the New Deal in 1933, the government started the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). Architects and photographers took pictures and drew blueprints of historic homes and courthouses so they would not be forgotten.

In 1969, the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) began documenting bridges, dams, and old factories. It was supported by groups like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Later, in 2000, the Historic American Landscapes Survey was formed with the American Society of Landscape Architects to record gardens, battlefields, and planned parks. All of these records are kept in the Library of Congress.

Community Programs and Historic Memory

The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program helps neighborhoods design walking paths. A famous example is Rails to Trails, where abandoned railroad lines are converted into flat hiking and cycling trails.

The service also cares for Japanese American Confinement Sites. During World War II, Japanese Americans were forced to stay in internment camps under orders signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The park service manages these sites so visitors can learn about the challenges faced by families during that era.

The agency also supports the National Trails System, working alongside the Bureau of Land Management, and oversees dozens of designated national heritage areas that celebrate regional traditions.

Protecting Nature for the Future

Rangers use innovative programs to keep air clean, animals healthy, and waters clear.

Fun Nature BioBlitz Events

Together with the National Geographic Society, the park service runs 24-hour BioBlitz events. Teams of scientists, teachers, and kids go outside to count every plant, insect, and bird they can spot.

BioBlitz surveys have made discoveries in many places:

• Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C.: Found 661 species.
• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California: Counted 1,700 species.
• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore: Identified over 1,700 species.
• Biscayne National Park in Florida: Logged 810 marine species.
• Saguaro National Park in Arizona: Discovered 859 living species, including over 400 that had never been spotted there before.
• Rocky Mountain National Park: Found 489 species of plants and mountain bugs.
• Events have also taken place at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Cabrillo National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park.

Wetland and Ecosystem Restoration

The agency restores fragile wetlands, including a marsh, swamp, or bog. In the South Florida ecosystem, the agency works with the Army Corps of Engineers to protect native birds, clean waterways, and help the Everglades recover.

Green Parks and Clean Energy

The Green Parks Plan and the Climate Friendly Parks Program aim to protect the air. Isolated parks create their own power using solar panels and wind energy instead of noisy generators.

Parks often use electric hybrid buses and clean diesel-electric transportation to reduce traffic fumes. Introducing clean electric vehicles keeps mountain air fresh and clear for everyone.

Images for kids

• 

  Stephen Mather and his team around 1928.

• 

  Chuck Sams served as the director of the park service.

See also

In Spanish: Servicio de Parques Nacionales para niños

People

• Ansel Franklin Hall, first Chief Naturalist of the NPS
• Stephen Mather, first Director of the NPS
• Harry Yount, seen as the first national park ranger

Related Organizations

• National Park Foundation
• National Parks Conservation Association

Other Links

• National Park Service Rustic, a style of architecture
• National Park Service uniforms
• US Parks Police