The (Political) History of the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) stands as a testament to America’s dedication to preserving its natural wonders and historical landmarks. It’s been a model for other parks and preservation efforts around the world for decades. However, as a government agency, it’s also reliant on funding by politicians and often the subject of political debates and controversies.
Established in 1916, the National Park Service has had to navigate a complex political landscape, evolving through legislative actions, administrative decisions, and societal shifts.
The Political History of the National Park Service
This article delves into the political history of the National Park Service, highlighting major milestones and significant park designations that have shaped its journey.
Timeline of the Political History of the National Park Service
This bullet-point timeline shows the many steps and major developments in the history of the National Park Service.
- 1864: Yosemite Land Act (President Abraham Lincoln and Congress)
- 1872: Yellowstone National Park Act (President Ulysses S. Grant and Congress)
- 1906: Antiquities Act (President Theodore Roosevelt and Congress)
- 1916: Act to Establish the National Park Service (Organic Act) (President Woodrow Wilson and Congress)
- 1933: Executive Order 6116 (Reorganization) (President Franklin D. Roosevelt)
- 1935: Historic Sites Act (President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress)
- 1956: Mission 66 (NPS Director Conrad Wirth)
- 1964-1979: A dozen environmental acts, including NEPA and ESA (Congress)
- 1980: Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act (President Jimmy Carter and Congress)
Detailed Overview of the National Park Service’s Political History
Below, we’ll dive deeper into several of the key legislations, political decisions, and congressional acts that created the National Park Service as we know it today.
Origins and Early Developments
The concept of preserving natural landscapes in the United States predates the formal establishment of the National Park Service.
In 1864, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Act, granting the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to the state of California for preservation and public use. This act marked the first instance of land being set aside specifically for conservation purposes.
Eight years later, on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as the first national park in the United States—and the world—through an act of Congress signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.
This groundbreaking move set a precedent for the creation of additional U.S. national parks. However, in these early years, there was no centralized agency to oversee these protected areas, leading to inconsistent management practices.
The Antiquities Act of 1906
A significant legislative milestone came with the Antiquities Act of 1906, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt.
This act granted the president the authority to designate national monuments on federal lands that held historic, prehistoric, or scientific significance. The Antiquities Act enabled swift protection of valuable sites without the need for lengthy congressional approval processes.
President Roosevelt utilized this power extensively, designating 18 national monuments during his tenure, including Devils Tower (the first of its kind), El Morro, Montezuma Castle, Petrified Forest, and the Grand Canyon. Those last two national monuments later became national parks.
Because of this legacy, Roosevelt is now often called “the conservation president.”
It’s worth pointing out how significant the Antiquities Act was and still is. Consider this: almost a quarter of all current NPS sites were established entirely or partially thanks to the Antiquities Act.
Establishment of the National Park Service in 1916
By the early 20th century, the growing number of national parks and monuments highlighted the need for a unified management system. Prior to 1916, these sites were managed by various agencies, leading to fragmented oversight.
Advocacy from conservationists, politicians, and the public culminated in the passage of the Organic Act on August 25, 1916. Signed by President Woodrow Wilson, this act established the National Park Service as a federal bureau within the Department of the Interior.
The National Park Service was tasked with the dual mission of conserving park resources and providing for the enjoyment of the public in a manner that would leave them unimpaired for future generations.
The 1933 Reorganization of the National Park System
A pivotal moment in the political history of the National Park Service occurred in 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration.
Through Executive Order 6166, a major reorganization consolidated all national parks, monuments, and historical sites under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
This reorganization greatly expanded the scope of the National Park Service by integrating 56 national monuments and military sites previously managed by the Forest Service and War Department
This reflected a broader commitment to preserving both natural and cultural resources across the nation, effectively establishing “today’s truly national system of parks.”
The Historic Sites Act of 1935
Building upon the expanded responsibilities from the 1933 reorganization, the Historic Sites Act of 1935 further solidified the National Park Service’s role in preserving historical and archaeological sites.
This act declared it national policy to preserve historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance, and it authorized the Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service Director to conduct surveys, research, and documentation of such sites.
This legislation underscored the importance of cultural preservation alongside natural conservation.
Post-World War II Expansion and Mission 66
The post-World War II era saw a surge in national park visitation, leading to increased pressure on park infrastructure and resources.
In response, the National Park Service launched Mission 66, a decade-long program initiated in 1956 aimed at expanding and modernizing park facilities by the agency’s 50th anniversary in 1966.
Aided by more than $1 billion appropriated by Congress, this program led to the development of visitor centers, improved roads, and enhanced services, reflecting a mid-20th-century emphasis on accommodating the growing automobile culture and increasing public interest in outdoor recreation.
Environmental Legislation of the 1960s and 1970s
The environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s brought about significant legislative changes that impacted the National Park Service.
Congress’s Wilderness Act of 1964 ensured that wilderness areas could be set aside “for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.”
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 required federal agencies, including the National Park Service, to assess the environmental impacts of their actions, ensuring that environmental considerations became integral to decision-making processes.
Additionally, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 mandated the protection of threatened and endangered species within national parks, reinforcing the National Park Service’s conservation mission.
Those are just three of the most important Acts by Congress in the 1960s and 1970s that applied to the National Park Service.
There were numerous others, too, including the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails System Act of 1968, the Volunteer in the Parks Act of 1969, the General Authorities Act of 1970, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act of 1980
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is a landmark U.S. law enacted on December 2, 1980, that significantly expanded federal land protections in Alaska.
Signed by President Jimmy Carter, the act designated well over 100 million acres of federal land for conservation purposes.
ANILCA created or expanded numerous national forests, wildlife refuges, wild and scenic rivers, national monuments, and national parks, including Denali National Park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), as well as the Iditarod National Historic Trail.
It also established millions of acres of new wilderness areas, ensuring long-term preservation of Alaska’s unique ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
In effect, ANILCA singlehandedly more than doubled the size of the National Park System, making it one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation in U.S. history.
A key feature of ANILCA was its effort to balance conservation with traditional and economic uses. The law allowed subsistence hunting and fishing for rural Alaskans, particularly benefiting Indigenous communities who rely on these activities for their way of life. It also provided for resource development in certain areas, ensuring that Alaska’s natural wealth could contribute to the state’s economy.
Recent Developments and Challenges
In recent years, the National Park Service has faced various political and administrative challenges. Budget constraints, staffing shortages, and debates over land use have influenced park management decisions.
For instance, the National Park Service set a visitation record in 2024, with 331.9 recreational visits, surpassing the previous record of 2016.
However, staff cuts ordered by the Trump administration have raised concerns about maintaining park services and facilities. In the first months of the administration, the National Park Service lost 1,700-2,000 fulltime employees, both through mass firings and deferred resignations. This is about 10% of its entire workforce.
Despite increased visitation, park advocates criticize the cuts, arguing they are out of touch with public sentiment and detrimental to park operations.
Controversies Over National Monuments and Land Use
The establishment of new national monuments has often sparked political debates, particularly over land use and resource management.
While conservationists and many Indigenous groups celebrate these designations as necessary steps to protect cultural heritage and biodiversity, opponents—including some state governments, ranchers, and energy developers—argue that they limit economic opportunities and local control over land.
For instance, President Donald Trump’s 2017 decision to significantly reduce the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah became one of the most contentious land management decisions in recent history.
Trump’s order cut Bears Ears by approximately 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante by nearly 50%, citing economic development concerns and arguing that previous administrations had overstepped their authority. The move was met with lawsuits from environmental groups and Native American tribes, who saw it as an attack on sacred lands.
In 2021, President Joe Biden restored the original boundaries of these monuments, reaffirming a commitment to conservation.
This ongoing political tug-of-war over national monument designations underscores the deep ideological divides over federal land management and the balance between environmental protection and economic development.
Climate Change and Conservation Efforts
Another pressing challenge facing the National Park Service is climate change. Rising temperatures, increased wildfires, and extreme weather events are affecting national parks nationwide.
Iconic landscapes such as Glacier National Park are losing their namesake glaciers, while rising sea levels threaten coastal parks like Everglades National Park in Florida. Coral reefs in Virgin Islands National Park are at risk from warming waters.
The National Park Service has been working to mitigate these impacts through climate resilience initiatives, including habitat restoration and the reduction of carbon footprints within park operations.
However, climate policies often become entangled in political debates. Some lawmakers advocate for aggressive climate action to protect public lands, while others prioritize economic interests, particularly regarding fossil fuel extraction on or near parklands.
The National Park Service, caught in the middle, must navigate these complex political dynamics while fulfilling its mission of conservation.
Equity and Inclusion in the National Park System
Recent years have also seen increased attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the National Park System. Historically, many national parks have focused on preserving landscapes significant to European-American history, often overlooking sites of importance to Indigenous communities and people of color.
Efforts to address this imbalance have led to the designation of new national monuments and historic sites celebrating Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian American history.
In 2022, President Biden designated the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, recognizing the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, the creation of the Amache National Historic Site in Colorado commemorates the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
These designations reflect broader efforts to ensure that the National Park System represents the full spectrum of American history. However, some conservative lawmakers have pushed back against these expansions, arguing that they divert resources from traditional park priorities.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the National Park Service
As the National Park Service moves forward, it faces critical questions about funding, staffing, conservation, and accessibility.
With visitation numbers continuing to rise, there is growing pressure to expand infrastructure while maintaining ecological integrity. Additionally, the agency must navigate the ever-changing political landscape, balancing competing interests while staying true to its mission.
The National Park Service’s history is one of adaptation and resilience. From its early beginnings in the 19th century to its modern challenges, the agency has remained a cornerstone of American conservation policy.
How it continues to evolve will shape not only the future of America’s natural and cultural heritage but also the broader national dialogue on public land use, environmental protection, and historical preservation.
