HaPpY BirthDaY National Parks
Aug 25, 2013 | by Kevin Loughlin
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act that established, through congressional legislation, a new agency with a mandate “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Today, the National Park Service cares for 401 sites throughout America, each providing recreational and educational opportunities while preserving our Nation’s heritage. These special places also provide valuable insight into our shared natural and cultural history. The National Park Service will celebrate its centennial in 2016.
–Text from the National Park Service Pages
–Photo © Kevin Loughlin