It’s been called “America’s best idea”—and its relevance is more timely than ever. There are now 424 parks in the nationally maintained system—more than 85 million acres spanning coast to coast, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. In 2021, there were 297.1 million recreational visitors to American national parks, proving that these spaces are indeed for the people to appreciate and enjoy. From the oldest to the largest to the most fascinating—this is the story of our national treasures.
America’s NATIONAL PARKS
A Brief History of America’s National Parks • THEY’VE BEEN CALLED “ AMERICA’S BEST IDEA ”—AND THEIR RELEVANCE IS MORE TIMELY THAN EVER
The Oldest • The parks with the longest histories in America
Yellowstone National Park • LOCATION: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming OPENED: 1872
Yosemite National Park • LOCATION: California / OPENED: 1890
Sequoia National Park • LOCATION: California OPENED: 1890
Mount Rainier National Park • LOCATION: Washington OPENED: 1899
Crater Lake National Park • LOCATION: Oregon OPENED: 1902
The Enormous • The largest national parks
Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 13.2 million acres
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 8.5 million acres
Denali National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 6.1 million acres
Katmai National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 4.3 million acres
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 3.3 million acres
Death Valley National Park • LOCATION: California / SIZE: 3.4 million acres
Everglades National Park • LOCATION: Florida SIZE: 1.5 million acres
Grand Canyon National Park • LOCATION: Arizona SIZE: 1.2 million acres
The Unique • National parks like no other
Biscayne National Park • LOCATION: Florida
Haleakalā National Park • LOCATION: Hawaii
Mammoth Cave National Park • LOCATION: Kentucky
Hot Springs National Park • LOCATION: Arkansas
Channel Islands National Park • LOCATION: California
Congaree National Park • LOCATION: South Carolina
Capitol Reef National Park • LOCATION: Utah
Big Bend National Park • LOCATION: Texas
Petrified Forest National Park • LOCATION: Arizona
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Colorado
Great Basin National Park • LOCATION: Nevada
Olympic National Park • LOCATION: Washington
Dry Tortugas National Park • LOCATION: Florida
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park • LOCATION: Hawaii
Mesa Verde National Park • LOCATION: Colorado
The Historic • The national parks with notable backstories
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace • LOCATION: Kentucky
San Juan Island • LOCATION: Washington
Appomattox Court House • LOCATION: Virginia
Blackstone River Valley • LOCATION: Rhode Island and Massachusetts
Palo Alto Battlefield • LOCATION: Texas
Nez Perce • LOCATION: Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington
Chaco Culture • LOCATION: New Mexico
Cumberland Gap • LOCATION: Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia
Dayton Aviation Heritage • LOCATION: Ohio
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad • LOCATION: Maryland
Keweenaw • LOCATION: Michigan
Klondike Gold Rush • LOCATION: Alaska and Washington
America’s National Parks
PHOTO CREDITS
America’s NATIONAL PARKS