National Park Service and it's Legacy

Artist George Catlin has been credited with presentingscenery and a place to enjoy healthy family
the notion of a governmental organization to protectentertainment for a lazy afternoon or the whole
our wilderness and wildlife. His essays reflectedsummer long. The chief duty of the national park
anxiety toward the continuing development and itsservice is a commitment to the conservation of
effects of the westward expansion over the naturalhistorical properties, scenery, wildlife and properties
wonderland. George Catlin expressed the theory ofcontained within a national park. The national park
creating a policy or agency to protect the wilderness.service promotes public education in reflection of the
The lands of Yellowstone and Yosemite receivedAmerican landscape. Receiving millions of visitors to
protection under specific preservation laws in the midover 391 units per year the national park service is a
1800's. Later the National Park service had begun to beflourishing society.
established.Yellowstone national park became the world's very
The potential for a booming tourism market inspiredfirst national park under the National Park Service.
many keen investors to band together and lobby forYellowstone was previously privately managed with
the creation of a National Park service. Mostsometimes uncertain success. Yosemite received
importantly supportive conservationist lobbying begansome protection as a state park originally but was
for the preservation of wildlife and natural resources.soon to join in under the protection of the National park
President Woodrow Wilson officially signed legislationService with others soon to follow. Mount Rainier,
for the creation of the National Park Service onGlacier, Crater Lake, and naturally, the beautiful
August 25th 1916.Sequoia, all thankfully receiving protection and
Congress created the national park service as aconservation under the care of the National Park
chapter o the United States department of the Interior.Service.
The national park service has since grown to employIt was soon recognized that parks not in the western
over 100,000 people and boast many thousands ofstates should also benefit from the care of the
volunteers. As a cabinet office to the executiveNational park Service and Acadia National Park in
branch of government the National Park service is runMaine was also included. Philanthropist John
by a secretary elected by the president. The nationalRockefeller Jr. was among others who assisted in the
Park service receives a yearly budget of over 2 billiongradual acquisition of eastern lands. In 1926 the Great
dollars.Smokey Mountains, Shenandoah and Mammoth cave
The national park service has been actively involved inwere all to be included for protection from the National
caring for American monuments, historical propertiesPark Service. In fact later the eastern states with their
and parks since 1916. National parks are a place ofmany historic sites such as battlefields and war
beautiful picnic spots equally dedicated to thememorials became an even larger area under
conservation of local wildlife. National parks areprotection from the National Park service.
available to the public providing spectacular natural