For more than 100 years, people have visited and enjoyed national parks across the U.S. The National Park Service (NPS) is the government agency in charge of the country’s parks. As of 2024, the NPS protects 433 sites that cover more than
85 million acres of land.
That’s an enormous leap from the first 35 parks managed by the NPS when it was created in 1916. Today, the NPS oversees more than just national parks. In fact, most NPS sites aren’t classified as national parks! They include protected shorelines, historical sites and monuments, national preserves, and more.
And there’s something for everyone! Beachgoers can enjoy the surf and sand at Cape Cod National Seashore. Kayakers can spot wildlife while paddling on the Alaganak Wild River in Alaska. Civil War re-enactors can visit the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. Hikers can trek around the deserts of the Mojave National Preserve in California. History buffs can see the cliff dwellings made by the Ancestral Pueblo people at the Navajo National Monument in Arizona.
No matter how it’s classified, being part of the NPS means the land is protected by law, so no one can damage the area. It keeps unique ecosystems safe and history preserved. And each one makes for great vacation memories!