Search

• Park Katmai National Park & Preserve President Woodrow Wilson established Katmai National Monument in 1918 to preserve the "Valley of 10,000 Smokes," so named when the Novarupta Volcano filled the valley with a 100- to 700-foot-deep ash flow.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Recognizing San Antonio Missions National Historical Park’s significance to our shared national heritage, NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks endeavored to determine the conditions of the cultural resources protected within the park.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Virgin Islands National Park Recognizing the significance of the natural and cultural resources found within Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks assessed the current conditions of these resources.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Current overall conditions of the known natural resources in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park rated a score of 60 out of 100. Overall conditions of the park’s known cultural resources rated 65 out of a possible 100, indicating “fair” conditions.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Vicksburg National Military Park In recognition of the importance of Vicksburg National Military Park's resources, NPCA's Center for State of the Parks completed an assessment to determine the conditions of those resources.
• Park Pea Ridge National Military Park This 4,500-acre park commemorates the 1862 Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge, known locally as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. The battle was a culmination of a series of skirmishes that took place in both southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas in the days preceding the larger conflict. Union soldiers had been moving south from central Missouri, pushing Confederate forces out of the state into northwestern Arkansas. Confederates launched a counter-offensive to try to regain control of northern Arkansas and Missouri. During the two-day battle, Union forces held off the Confederate attack, then drove the Confederate soldiers off the field. After the Battle of Pea Ridge was over, the Union would control both northern Arkansas and Missouri for the duration of the war. This battle is one of the few where the number of soldiers in the Confederate army outnumbered the Union. Today, thanks to its largely rural setting, the Pea Ridge National Military Park is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation.
• Park Golden Spike National Historical Park Golden Spike National Historic Site marks the spot where the Union and Central Pacific Railroads converged on May 10, 1869, creating the nation's first transcontinental railroad.
• Blog Post The First National Park Established for Its Biodiversity Jul 2022 | By Cara Capp National parks protect places of national significance, from historic homes to rare fossil sites to areas of scenic beauty. Everglades was the first national park designated specifically to preserve biodiversity.
• Blog Post The World’s First National Park Cave Dec 2014 | By Jennifer Errick National parks protect the country’s most treasured landscapes, including a wealth of natural resources under the Earth’s crust. The United States was the first place in the world to designate a cave as a national park.
• Press Release Analysis Finds Proposed Refinery a Major Source of Pollution for Theodore Roosevelt National Park Aug 2017 Independent analysis raises numerous concerns about air pollution from Meridian Energy Group’s proposed oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s boundary in North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Health and the National Park Service are currently reviewing an air permit application by the company.
• Press Release BLM Advances Oil and Gas Leasing Close to Dinosaur National Monument and Great Basin National Park Dec 2017 The lease sales next to Dinosaur National Monument and Great Basin National Park continue the Trump Administration’s troubling track record of leasing lands near national parks.
• Press Release Forest Service Green Lights ‘Growler’ Jet Flights Over Olympic National Park Aug 2017 In a move that endangers natural quiet in Olympic National Park, the U.S. Forest Service approved a permit for the U.S. Navy to use roads just outside the park in support of electronic warfare training for “Growler” fighter jets.
• Press Release All Pueblo Council of Governors Receives National Conservation Award for Efforts Opposing Oil & Gas Development Near National Parks Jun 2019 The National Parks Conservation Association recognizes Pueblo group for protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
• Press Release Proposed Oil Refinery Threatens Theodore Roosevelt National Park Oct 2016 Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is one step closer to building a 55,000 barrel-per-day crude oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park . The fast-moving proposal is opposed by NPCA, current and former superintendents of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and many people in the state and local area.
• Press Release County Commission Approves Oil Refinery Next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park Jul 2016 Despite opposition from current and former national park superintendents, the Billings County Commission in North Dakota approved rezoning for an industrial scale oil refinery, to be built less than three miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
• Press Release Defending the Air at Theodore Roosevelt National Park Jul 2018 “National Parks Conservation Association refuses to stand by and allow Meridian Energy Group to pollute the air within and surrounding Theodore Roosevelt National Park with its proposed oil refinery.”
• Press Release Opportunity Presented to Keep Everglades National Park Fully Protected from Power Lines Dec 2015 Decision to acquire Florida Power & Light’s ecologically critical parcel within Everglades National Park could finally put an end to the threat of power lines being built inside park boundaries
• Press Release Grand Teton National Park Wildlife, Visitors to Benefit from Final Moose-Wilson Road Plan Sep 2016 The National Park Service's final Moose-Wilson Corridor plan puts Grand Teton National Park on track to preserve the corridor’s unique resources for the long term. The popular road corridor is home to grizzly bears, moose, wolves and other iconic wildlife as well as significant Native American archaeological resources.
• Blog Post It’s Time for Seniors to Pay More for Their National Park Passes Mar 2016 | By Tom Hill The $10 lifetime national park pass is a phenomenal bargain for people 62 and older—but one senior citizen thinks it's a deal that our parks can't afford.
• Press Release Delayed Air Quality Protections Favors Pollution Over Parks and Public Lands Dec 2017 The Bureau of Land Management is delaying implementation of commonsense methane rules, putting the health of national parks and park visitors at risk.
• Press Release Gettysburg National Military Park Safe from a Casino – For Now Jun 2017 In a victory for national park and historic preservation, an ill-advised proposal for a racetrack and casino near Gettysburg National Military Park was cancelled.
• Policy Update Infrastructure needs in our National Parks Mar 2021 NPCA sent the following letter to the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee outling infrastructure needs in our parks and park landscapes. 
• Blog Post Why Can’t Visitors Walk In to “Open-Air” Parks? Oct 2013 | By John Garder National parks are prominent icons representing the very best of America—so it’s not surprising that losing access to these inspirational places is causing heartbreak and anger around the country. When Congress closed the national parks as part of the government shutdown on October 1, it affected hundreds of thousands of visitors, business owners, and workers. Eleven days later, the standoff on Capitol Hill continues.
• Blog Post VICTORY: What You Helped Protect at Biscayne National Park Jun 2015 | By Caroline McLaughlin Earlier today, park officials at Biscayne made an announcement that NPCA has been waiting more than 15 years to hear: The park will establish a new marine reserve to help protect its fragile, one-of-a-kind underwater resources. This important step represents the work of numerous environmental groups, scientists, fishermen, and concerned citizens—including more than 20,000 NPCA supporters who spoke out over the years to make this reserve a reality.
• Press Release BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sales in New Mexico, Temporarily Protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park Feb 2019 National Parks Conservation Association celebrates temporary victory for public lands near New Mexico National Park, still concerned about overall leasing processes and lack of public input.
• Blog Post No, National Parks Are Not America’s 'Best Idea' Feb 2016 | By Alan Spears Could the way some enthusiasts refer to national parks actually alienate the diverse supporters the parks need?
• Press Release Summit Sets Course for Protecting America's National Parks, Connecting to People Jan 2012 Historic gathering of leading national park champions shapes outline for supporting National Park Service's mission for 2016 centennial and the century to follow
• Blog Post Who Counts? A Closer Look at Parks’ Record Visitation Numbers Mar 2016 | By Nicolas Brulliard Every year, the Park Service releases its official statistics on visitation at national park sites around the country. How does the agency come up with these numbers? With vehicle multipliers, regression formulas, and other unusual procedures, the answer is anything but simple.
• Blog Post National Parks Deserve to Be Protected from Oil and Gas Development Apr 2013 | By Tom Kiernan Theodore Roosevelt was our greatest conservation president. President Roosevelt’s boundless vision and determination resulted in a system of national parks that is the envy of the world, and has been called “America’s Best Idea.” Ironically, his namesake national park, which includes his North Dakota homestead, is currently facing a threat that could permanently degrade a patch of land that was supposed to be protected in perpetuity.
• Blog Post 6 Ways to Celebrate National Park Week Apr 2022 All national parks are waiving their entrance fees on Saturday, April 16, for the kickoff to National Park Week.
• Press Release Trump Administration Silences National Park Service, Hindering Ability to Provide Expertise Sep 2019 This basic disregard for the Park Service’s mission could have major implications for all our national parks and public lands for years to come.
• Blog Post The 10 National Park Sites with More Than 5 Million Recreational Visitors in 2017 Mar 2018 | By Jennifer Errick National parks continued to serve as popular tourist destinations in 2017, with dozens of sites seeing all-time highs in numbers of recreational visits. Here are the 10 most-visited places in the National Park System.
• Press Release Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Off-road Vehicle Plan Ignores Threats to Park Resources Mar 2018 The National Park Service’s proposed special regulations for off-road vehicle management at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area misses the mark, ignores park impacts.
• Press Release Disappointing: Supreme Court To Reconsider Park Service Authority Over Waterways in Alaska Jun 2018 The Supreme Court agreed to consider a case involving the National Park Service’s ability to regulate hovercraft and other activities on navigable waters within national park boundaries.
• Press Release Court Defends Park Service’s Authority to Manage Its Waterways Oct 2017 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of the National Park Service, reaffirming the agency’s ability to regulate activities on navigable waters within national park boundaries.
• Blog Post You Made It Happen: Overwhelming Success for 7 Parks and Counting Jan 2017 | By Theresa Pierno How advocates around the country helped protect our Parks in Peril
• Press Release Yellowstone® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Launches Program Supporting America’s National Parks May 2018 Brand partnership with National Parks Conservation Association to help preserve and protect our parks.
• Fact Sheet Park Friends of the Colorado River NPCA's Colorado River Program, launched in 2011, harnesses the iconic power of national parks, their broad public and political support, their capacity to engage and educate, as well as protect and improve the health of the land and water within which national parks reside.
• Victory New National Monument Honors Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley A new national park site will ensure that the tragic death of Emmett Till and the strength and resolve of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, are never forgotten.
• Victory Great American Outdoors Act The Great American Outdoors Act is providing crucial funding – up to $6.65 billion over five years – to fix our national parks’ crumbling roads, decaying buildings, outdated water systems and many more repair needs.
• James D. Nations Former Director of NPCA's Center for Park Research Trained as an ecological anthropologist, Dr. James D. Nations has spent the past 25 years working for the protection of natural ecosystems and cultural heritage in the tropics and the United States. Before joining the National Parks Conservation Association as head of the Center for Park Research, James worked 13 years with Conservation International, serving as Vice President for Mexico and Central America, Vice President for Latin America, and Vice President for Development Agency Relations.
• NPCA at Work Find Your Voice The Find Your Voice initiative engaged a new generation of advocates to speak up for parks through a series of special events and hands-on projects during the 2016 National Park Service centennial.
• Park Assateague Island National Seashore This 37-mile-long barrier island along the Atlantic coasts of Maryland and Virginia includes adjacent marsh islands and ocean waters. The park offers an extraordinary beach experience that allows visitors to enjoy wildlife and outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting. About 3.2 million people visit the national seashore annually to boat, bird-watch, fish, hunt, crab, clam, camp, ride over-sand vehicles and see the park's famous wild horses.
• NPCA at Work The Problem with Methane Methane is a powerful pollutant that speeds the warming of our climate. Oil and gas development is responsible for most of the methane emissions in the United States, as well as other pollution, which together creates smog that threatens public health and our national parks.
• Liz Ackley Former Associate Director of Foundation Relations As Associate Director of Foundation Relations, Liz Ackley writes and manages grants for NPCA’s regional and national programs. Her favorite national park is Yosemite.
• Park Ford's Theatre National Historic Site Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth assassinated 16th President Abraham Lincoln in this building just five days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered in April 1865, signaling the end of the Civil War. Still an active theater, this site includes the compact performance space where the president and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln watched the production of Our American Cousin from a box above the proscenium arch. Beneath the theater, a basement museum now houses artifacts from the event, including the president’s greatcoat, the assassin’s diary and the actual .44-caliber Derringer from the fatal attack. Across the street, visitors can also explore the home of the German tailor William A. Petersen where Lincoln was carried after the shooting and was tended to until his death hours later.
• Valerie Naylor Valerie Naylor is the former superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. She currently serves as a consultant to NPCA’s Northern Rockies Region.
• Michael Lanza Michael Lanza is the Northwest editor of Backpacker and creator of TheBigOutside.com. This article is adapted from his new book Before They’re Gone: A Family’s Year-Long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks, published by Beacon Press.
• Laura O’Brien Mid-Atlantic Young Professional Advisory Council Laura O’Brien is the Rappahannock County Conservation Field Representative for the Piedmont Environmental Council, a locally based nonprofit and land trust in the northern Piedmont region of Virginia.
• NPCA at Work Reimagining the Mississippi River Help support a healthy, accessible Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Pagination