The American system of national parks

Did you know that there are more than 400 sites in the U.S. national park system? These sites comprise national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, scenic rivers and trails, and even the White House. There are national parks in all 50 states. The first national park in the U.S. was Yellowstone National Park, a wildlife and nature park established in 1872. However, there was no single agency in the United States to manage and maintain sites that were later named national parks and monuments, so in 1916 the U.S. Government created the National Park Service. This independent agency today oversees our national parks and monuments to preserve their scenery, wildlife, and historic and cultural significance while ensuring Americans can enjoy these sites now and in the future. National parks can only be created by an act of Congress. Today the U.S. national park system not only includes green spaces and wildlife parks like Yellowstone but also national monuments, and historic and military sites. For example, many of the significant battle sites from the U.S. Civil War and Revolutionary War are national parks. Some of the most famous are Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, which is the site of a major Civil War battle, and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia. Monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC are also part of our national park system. Perhaps the best-known natural park in the United States is the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The U.S. National Park Service has more than 20,000 employees who maintain these parks, assisted by nearly two million volunteers. These volunteers help with tasks such as staffing information booths, picking up trash, and giving tours to visitors. Many of our national parks include visitor centers with educational materials and exhibits, and in larger parks such as Yellowstone there is lodging available. Nearly 280 million visitors come to U.S. national parks each year, and the federal government spends nearly $3 billion maintaining these properties and educating the public about their significance as part of American culture and heritage.