National Park Service Founders Day

National Park Service Founders Day, observed on August 25, celebrates the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. Established to protect and preserve America’s most treasured natural, cultural, and historic places, the agency helps ensure that these special sites remain accessible for people today and for generations to come.

The observance is an opportunity to appreciate the landscapes, wildlife, stories, and heritage found throughout the national park system. Whether visiting a nearby park, learning about conservation, supporting preservation efforts, or simply enjoying the outdoors, people can mark August 25 by recognizing the enduring value of protecting America’s shared treasures.

National Park Service Founders Day is observed on **August 25** to commemorate the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. On that date, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act, establishing a federal bureau within the Department of the Interior to manage the nation’s growing system of national parks and monuments. The law stated that the Service should conserve park scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife while providing for their enjoyment in a manner that would leave them unimpaired for future generations.

The creation of the National Park Service followed decades of debate over how federally protected lands should be administered. Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, but early parks were managed inconsistently by different government offices and military authorities. Advocates including journalist and conservationist Stephen Mather argued for a unified agency with professional leadership, public visibility, and a coordinated approach to preservation. Mather became the first director of the new Service, with Horace M. Albright serving as one of its early leading administrators.

Over time, August 25 developed from a commemoration of the agency’s founding into an opportunity to recognize the broader history of the national park system. National Park Service sites use the occasion to highlight landmark preservation achievements, Indigenous histories and enduring connections to protected landscapes, scientific research, public education, and the work of park employees and volunteers. The observance also reflects the expansion of the system beyond scenic wilderness to include historic buildings, battlefields, cultural landscapes, seashores, recreation areas, and sites connected with significant American experiences.

The cultural significance of National Park Service Founders Day lies in its reminder that national parks are both places of recreation and public responsibilities. The anniversary invites visitors to consider the balance between access and conservation, as well as the many communities and historical narratives connected with lands now administered by the Service. Observed each year on **August 25**, it honors the 1916 founding while encouraging continued support for protecting the country’s natural and cultural heritage.