National Park Service gearing up for centennial in 2016

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Photo by Todd DeFeo)

The National Park Service, the federal agency tasked with protecting many of the nation’s most treasured monuments and sites, is gearing up for their centennial celebration next year.

“The centennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the National Park Service to reflect on our accomplishments and to use all of our parks and programs to connect all Americans and visitors from around the world with the natural, cultural and historic treasures in our care,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a news release.

Europeans colonizing what is today Texas starting in the 17th century built stunning missions that rival their cathedral counterparts in Europe. (Photo by Todd DeFeo)
Europeans colonizing what is today Texas starting in the 17th century built stunning missions that rival their cathedral counterparts in Europe. (Photo by Todd DeFeo)

The National Park Service was created by the National Park Service Organic ActPresident Woodrow Wilson signed the measure — sponsored by Rep. William Kent, I-Calif., and Sen. Reed Smoot, R-Utah — into law on Aug. 25, 1916.

The National Park Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior that employees more than 20,000, today oversees 407 sites. Of those, 59 are of national parks while the rest are classified as historic sites, national recreation areas or carry other designations.

National parks are “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst,” writer and historian Wallace Stegner once said.

But, national parks pre-date the creation of the National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park was designated as the first national park on March 1, 1872, followed by Sequoia on Sept. 25, 1890, and Yosemite on Oct. 1, 1890.

“Parks are more than places,” Saguaro National Park Superintendent Darla Sidles said in a news release. “They inspire us, give us respite from a fast-paced world, challenge us physically, and protect our precious heritage and natural resources.”

Key Dates

Here is an overview of some of the key and interesting dates in the history of national parks:

  • 1872Yellowstone National Park is established as the first national park
  • 1916National Park Service Organic Act signed into law, creating the National Park Service
  • 1924: Statue of Liberty designated a national monument
  • 1933: President Herbert Hoover signed the Reorganization Act of 1933
  • 1956: Mission 66 Project launched, a $1 billion project to upgrade national parks for their 50th anniversary
  • 1972: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco and the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York are established
  • 2004: The National World War II Memorial is dedicated
  • 2009: Ken Burns’ documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” is released
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About Todd DeFeo 1625 Articles
Todd DeFeo loves to travel anywhere, anytime, taking pictures and notes. An award-winning reporter, Todd revels in the experience and the fact that every place has a story to tell. He is the owner of The DeFeo Groupe and also edits Express Telegraph and Railfanning.org.