Leadership 

Director 

Michael T. Reynolds (Acting) 

Deputy Directors 

Bert Frost (Acting) 

Lena McDowell

Administration 

The National Park Service (NPS) is a 

bureau of the U.S. Department of the 

Interior. The NPS manages the 417 

parks of the National Park System. 

The NPS also helps administer 

dozens of affiliated sites, the National Register of Historic Places, National Heritage Areas, National Wild 

and Scenic Rivers, National Historic 

Landmarks, and National Trails.

Mission Statement

On August 25, 1916, President 

Woodrow Wilson signed the act 

creating the NPS. The “Organic Act” 

states that the fundamental purpose 

of the NPS “is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to 

provide for the enjoyment of the 

same in such manner and by such 

means as will leave them unimpaired 

for the enjoyment of future generations.” 

Website 

In-depth information is 

available at www.nps.gov

The Number of Parks 

The National Park System covers 

more than 84 million acres and 

is comprised of 417 sites with at 

least 19 different designations. 

These include 129 historical 

parks or sites, 87 national monuments, 59 national parks, 25 battlefields or military parks, 19 preserves, 18 recreation areas, 10 

seashores, four parkways, four 

lakeshores, and two reserves. 

Yellowstone National Park was 

established by Congress as the 

nation’s (and the world’s) first 

national park on March 1, 1872. 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 

and Preserve is the largest park 

with 13.2 million acres. The 

smallest site is the Thaddeus 

Kosciuszko National Memorial 

at 0.02 acres.

Budget 

The budget for fiscal year 2015 

was $2.8 billion. Annual visitor 

spending in communities within 

60 miles of NPS sites supports 

more than 295,000 mostly local 

jobs and contributes about $32 

billion to the U.S. economy. 

Recreational Visits 

Visitor Services 

The NPS maintains 879 visitor 

centers and contact stations 

which were visited by more than 

307 million people in 2015. More 

than 500,000 attended special 

events and ranger programs. 

More than 660,000 children participated in the “Junior Ranger” 

program.

Employees & Volunteers

The NPS employs more than 

22,000 permanent, temporary, 

and seasonal workers. 

They are assisted by 440,000 

Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs), who 

donate about 7.9 million hours 

annually. 

National Park Service Overview 

National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

1920 1 million 

1940 17 million 

1960 79 million 

1980 198 million 

2000 286 million 

2015 307.2 million 
Preservation 

National parks contain: 

At least 247 species of threatened or

endangered plants and animals. 

More than 75,000 archeological

sites. 

Nearly 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures. 

More than 167 million museum

items, including George Washington’s inaugural coat and Carl 

Sandburg’s typewriter. 

18,000 miles of trails.

The world’s largest carnivore, the

Alaskan brown bear. 

The world’s largest living things,

Giant Sequoia trees. 

The highest point in North

America, Denali (20,320 feet), in 

Denali National Park. 

The longest cave system known to

the world, Mammoth Cave National Park, with more than 400 

mapped miles of caves. 

America’s deepest lake, Crater

Lake in Crater Lake National 

Park, at 1,943 feet. 

The lowest point in the Western

Hemisphere, Badwater Basin in 

Death Valley National Park, at 

282’ below sea level.

Concessions 

The NPS has more than 500 concession contracts at more than 100 

sites. Concessioners provide visitors with food, lodging, transportation, shops, and other services. 

They employ approximately 25,000 

people. Gross revenues are about 

$1.3 billion annually, and they pay 

the government $80 million in franchise fees each year.

Partnerships

 Public support for America’s

national parks is a tradition as 

old as the parks themselves. 

Even before the establishment 

of the National Park Service 

in 1916, citizens stepped forward to protect special places 

that exemplify our national 

heritage. 

 Thousands of public private

partnerships play a crucial 

role in advancing the NPS 

mission. 

 More than 150 non-profit

park friends groups contribute time, expertise, and about 

$50 million annually to national parks across the country. 

 The National Park Foundation, the national nonprofit 

partner to the NPS, raises private funds to help protect national parks. The Foundation 

has provided nearly $120 million in support to park projects and programs over the 

past seven years. 

 71 cooperating associations

enhance educational and 

interpretive experiences at 

parks by offering programs 

and selling park-related retail 

items in their shops. The associations provide about $75 

million to the NPS in annual 

contributions and volunteer 

support. 

Fees 

126 NPS sites charge entrance fees, 

which range from $5 to $30. The 

money remains with the NPS and 

is used to enhance visitor services 

and facilities. 

The America the Beautiful-National 

Parks and Federal Recreational 

Lands Pass is an $80 annual pass 

that provides access to federal 

lands managed by five different 

government agencies, including 

the NPS. 

Children under 16 are admitted to 

parks without charge. A $10, lifetime Senior Pass is available for 

U.S. citizens 62 years and older. A 

free, lifetime Access Pass is 

offered for citizens with permanent disabilities. 

 Fourth graders of the 2016-2017 

school year may receive a free 

Every Kid in a Park entrance pass, 

to encourage them to visit hundreds of parks, lands, and waters 

with family and friends.

The Future

The NPS is celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Kicking off its second century, the NPS remains committed to its original mission—to 

maintaining and protecting our national parks for the continued benefit 

and enjoyment of all Americans. 

“Our long term prosperity depends 

on the faithful stewardship of the air 

that we breathe, the water we drink, 

and the land that we sow. That’s a 

sacred trust.” 

- Barack Obama, 2009

Updated 2-8-2017