National Park Service

Description

The National Park Service, or NPS, is a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior. Congress created it on August 25, 1916, through the National Park Service Organic Act. It manages the National Park System, which includes national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, seashores, recreation areas and other protected places. The system covers more than 400 units across every U.S. state, the District of Columbia and several territories.

The agency’s mission is to conserve the scenery, natural and historic objects and wildlife in the parks while leaving them unimpaired for future generations to enjoy. It employs about 20,000 permanent, temporary and seasonal staff and is supported by well over 100,000 volunteers each year. Most park units charge no entrance fee, and the system received over 330 million recreation visits in 2024.

NPS also helps visitors plan trips, issues entrance passes, and runs facilities such as campgrounds, lodges and visitor centers, often through private concessioners. It reviews potential new park sites, offers grants for historic preservation and conservation, and answers questions from the public through a dedicated contact service. The agency’s headquarters is in Washington, D.C.