August 25 commemorates the anniversary of the formation of the National Park Service!
On this day in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act into law. Before then, iconic places like the Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks were managed individually by the Department of the Interior with no unified system.
Thanks to the efforts of business leaders, conservationists and naturalists, the concept for a dedicated agency with the sole purpose of preserving America’s most popular landscapes for future generations gained momentum. One of the most influential advocates for this new agency was Stephen Mather, a wealthy businessman who promoted the parks and convinced Congress that they needed professional management. Mather later became the first director of National Park Service in May, 1917!
Pres. Wilson’s Organic Act gave the National Park Service a mission that remains largely unchanged today: "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same... by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
Today, the National Park Service manages more than 430 sites across the United States, including national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, seashores, and scenic trails. Together, these sites preserve America's natural beauty, history, and cultural heritage for millions of visitors each year!
History in a Nutshell features short, sweet and to the point historical content. These short-form "factoids" highlight various observances throughout the year, such as anniversaries, holidays, people, and more!
