History of the National Park Service

National Park Service

Arrowhead of the National Park Service
Agency overview
Formed	1916
Preceding agency	individual parks
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Employees	21,000
Parent agency	Department of the Interior
Website	NPS.gov

Since 1872 the United States National Park System has grown from a single, public reservation called Yellowstone National Park to include 430 natural, historical, recreational, and cultural areas throughout the United States, its territories, and island possessions. These areas include National Parks, National Monuments, National Memorials, National Military Parks, National Historic Sites, National Parkways, National Recreation Areas, National Seashores, National Scenic Riverways, and National Scenic Trails.