National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government, within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The service manages all national parks; most national monuments; and other natural, historical, and recreational properties, with various title designations.[3][4] The United States Congress created the agency on August 25, 1916, through the National Park Service Organic Act.[5] Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C., within the main headquarters of the Department of the Interior.
Agency overview
August 25, 1916 (1916-08-25)
- Main Interior Building
- 1849 C Street NW
- Washington, D.C.
- 20240, U.S.
$3.265 billion (FY2022)[2]
The NPS employs about 20,000 people in 429 units covering over 85 million acres (0.34 million km2) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.[6][4][7] In 2019, the service had more than 279,000 volunteers.[7] The agency is charged with preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its management and with making them available for public use and enjoyment.
Resist the trajectory of change, by working to maintain or restore ecosystem processes, function, structure, or composition based upon historical or acceptable current conditions.
Accept the trajectory of change, by allowing ecosystem processes, function, structure, or composition to change, without intervening to alter their trajectory.
Direct the trajectory of change, by actively shaping ecosystem processes, function, structure, or composition towards desired new conditions.
It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.
It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of the nation's heritage.
It offers superlative opportunities for recreation, for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.
It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource.
at Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park.
Delaware North Corporation
at Bryce Canyon National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Death Valley National Park, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Painted Desert at Petrified Forest National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Zion National Park.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts
National Park Service Ranger
Law enforcement
Park management (Superintendent/Deputy)
United States Park Police
Dispatchers
Maintenance (including , plumbers, masons, laborers, auto mechanics, motor vehicle operators, heavy equipment operators, electricians)
carpenters
Architects
Fire management (managers, weather specialist, , engine captains, crew superintendents, battalion chiefs)
See also: Wildfire
firefighters
Public Affairs
Administration (human resources, finance, accountants, information technology, budgeting, concessions management)
Rock Creek Park
Biological Diversity: Biological Diversity is the vast variety of life as identified through species and genetics. This variety is decreasing as people spread across the globe, altering areas to better meet their needs.
[99]
Climate Change: Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global sea levels. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007).
[100]
South Florida Restoration Initiative: Rescuing an Ecosystem in Peril: In partnership with the State of , and the Army Corps of Engineers, the NPS is restoring the physical and biological processes of the South Florida ecosystem. Historically, this ecosystem contained some of the most diverse habitats on earth.[101]
Florida
Vanishing Treasures Initiative: Ruins Preservation in the American Southwest: The Vanishing Treasures Initiative began in FY 1998 to reduce threats to prehistoric and historic sites and structures in 44 parks of the Intermountain Region. In 2002, the program expanded to include three parks in the Pacific West Region. The goal is to reduce backlogged work and to bring sites and structures up to a condition where routine maintenance activities can preserve them.
[102]
Wetlands: Wetlands includes , swamps, and bogs. These areas and the plants and animals adapted to these conditions spread from the arctic to the equator. The shrinking wetlands provide habitat for fish and wildlife, help clean water and reduce the impact of storms and floods on the surrounding communities.[103]
marshes
Wildland Fire: Fires have been a natural part of park eco-systems. Many plants and some animals require a cycle of fire or flooding to be successful and productive. With the advent of human intervention and public access to parks, there are safety concerns for the visiting public.
[104]
first Chief Naturalist and first Chief Forester of the NPS
Ansel Franklin Hall
donated early parklands to the government
William Kent (U.S. Congressman)
congressman from Iowa
John F. Lacey
progenitor of the modern national park ranger
Harry Yount
Szabó, Andrea; Ujhelyi, Gergely (2024). "". Journal of Public Economics. – Includes a dataset of the history of the US National Park System.
National parks and economic development
(does not include National Park System units of any other designation)
Gallery of all US National Parks
Gallery of National Park "Welcome" Signs
including an administrative history and a list of regional offices of the National Park Service up to 1988
Records of the National Park Service
the Congressionally chartered national charitable partner of America's National Parks
National Park Foundation
The short film is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
National Parks: An American Legacy (1992)
NPS official website
Photos of Park Rangers over the last 100+ years
NPS Research Links/Reference Desk
NPS Library Information Center
NPS Focus Digital Library & Research Station
NPS Historic Photograph Collection
NPS B-Roll Video (public domain)
NPS Digital Image Archives (public domain)
NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS)
Community Assistance Available from the National Park Service
Criteria for inclusion in the National Park System
(national monument vs national park, etc.)
Designation of National Park System Units
National Park System Timeline
available in the Archival Research Catalog of the National Archives and Records Administration