National Park Service (NPS)

The National Park Service (NPS) manages over 85 million acres of public land across 50 states and four territories.

- National Park Service

Summary

The National Park Service (NPS) manages over 85 million acres of public land across 50 states and four territories. In all, the National Park Service manages 433 separate sites that host over 318 million visitors every year. These sites vary widely in purpose, from preserving locations of historical and cultural significance to natural beauty. From Antietam National Battlefield and Independence National Historical Park to Yosemite National Park. Of the 433 sites, 63 have been designated by Congress as National Parks. This includes Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park.

The approximate 20,000 employees and 138,000 volunteers of the National Park Service play critical roles in preserving and maintaining these sites. Whether it is in the heart of New York at the Statue of Liberty National Monument or in remote north slope Alaska at the Gates of the Arctic National Park, employees and volunteers of the National Park Service are working diligently. They provide important educational resources through interpretation.

The National Park Service has a major impact on local and state economies, providing an important driver for tourism. This plays a critical role in the vitalization of rural economies across the United States. In 2023, visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs and provided over $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy.

Mission: The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Important Legislation

National Park Service Organic Act of 1916

Antiquities Act of 1906

Learn more from the National Park Service.