How were the National Parks started?
America's National Park System includes roughly 85 million acres of US territory, equal to the size of Germany, set aside by federal law for preservation. There are 63 areas officially designated as national parks—including the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia—and more than 400 additional smaller units (see map).
In 1872, Yellowstone was established as the first national park dedicated to public enjoyment and recreation, though its foundation also displaced several Native American tribes. By 1916, the growing system required the creation of the National Park Service to preserve its lands for future generations. Eventually, hunting and logging were banned in the parks, though regulated extractive activity is still permitted in national preserves.
In 2024, visits to national parks generated an estimated $29B in local economic activity. Roughly 323 million people visited America's national parks in 2025, a decrease of 3% from the previous year that was attributed in part to a 43-day partial government shutdown, the longest in US history. Federal cost-cutting efforts in recent years have prompted debate over whether the agency can sustain its current operations, with permanent staff dropping by a quarter last year.
... Read our full write-up on the parks here.
Also, check out ...
> Paintings by Thomas Moran inspired the creation of Yellowstone National Park. (Watch)
> Great Smoky Mountains continues to be the most popular national park. (Read)
> See a collection of Ansel Adams' portraits of the parks. (Browse)
> Not all public lands are part of the National Park System. (Watch)
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