The National Park Service came into being in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act. Millions of people have visited the sites, among them are dignitaries like Abraham Lincoln and Pope Francis. In celebration of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, we are launching a movement to spread the word about the unbelievable places we manage, the inspirational stories that the national parks tell, our country’s natural resources, and our diverse cultural heritage.
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To find out more how you can celebrate, such as visiting one of the over 400 recognized places, visit the official centennial page.
Yosemite, located in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, sort of became the became the first national park in the U.S.in the 1800s, according to National Geographic, when President Lincoln put Yosemite under the protection of California during the Civil War.
The National Park Service is also holding a celebration for Acadia’s centennial on Saturday at the Jordan Pond House. The event will feature musicians such as Emmylou Harris and John Prine, as well as Teddy Roosevelt reenactor Joe Wiegand and various dignitaries. Yellowstone was established in 1872.
“You have a very rare site here with the Pappan’s Ferry Landing, and it’s an opportunity for us to tell a different story here than is really told anywhere else”, said National Park Service Ranger Carol Clark. The initiative consulted with experts, citizens, park partners and others to learn about what people envisioned for the park service’s second century. Nationally, parks generate $27 billion dollars in economic activity and support 250,000 jobs. One action item on the list called for more work to get future generations involved with the parks.
However, before you pack your auto – and kids – up, know this: while the trip will take travelers from ME to California, and through 23 different states, according to The Washington Post, the 14,498 mile “national park trip” will take approximately two months to drive. The newly formed branch of government was given the responsibility of preserving the natural and cultural resources and wildlife this great land has to offer.
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The centennial celebration has picked up speed in the digital realm as well.
