About NPS

The National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior, manages 62 protected areas in the United States known as national parks. These national parks are established through acts of the United States Congress. The first national park, Yellowstone, was created by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. Subsequently, Mackinac National Park was established in 1875 (later decommissioned in 1895), and followed by Rock Creek Park (which later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia, and Yosemite in 1890.

In 1916, the National Park Service was established through the Organic Act with the purpose of preserving the landscapes, natural and historic features, as well as wildlife, while ensuring their enjoyment for present and future generations. The Act aimed to safeguard these resources in a manner that would leave them unimpaired. Prior to their designation as national parks, several of the existing parks had been previously protected as national monuments by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act before receiving elevated status through congressional action.

In addition to the following figures, it's important to note that seven national parks, with six of them located in Alaska, are accompanied by a national preserve. These preserves have varying levels of protection and are managed together with the parks, yet they are regarded as separate units and are not included in the statistics presented below. The selection of national parks is based on several criteria, including breathtaking natural beauty, distinctive geological features, exceptional ecosystems, and recreational possibilities. However, these criteria are not always evaluated collectively. Conversely, national monuments are often chosen due to their historical or archaeological importance.

Among the national parks, a total of fourteen have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS), while twenty-one national parks hold the designation of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR). Notably, eight national parks have received recognition under both UNESCO programs, highlighting their exceptional value and significance in terms of both cultural heritage and ecological conservation.