Frequently Asked Questions About The National Park Service


Who is the Director of The National Park Service?

Frances P. Mainella

Learn More about Past Directors of the National Park Service


What government agency oversees the National Park Service?

The National Park Service is a bureau of the Department of the Interior. Directly overseeing its operation is the Department's Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.


How Old is the System?

The National Park Service was created by an Act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, l9l6. Yellowstone National Park was established by an Act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March l, l872, as the Nation's first national park.

View the National Park System Timeline.


How many areas are there in the National Park system?

The National Park System comprises 384 areas covering more than 83.3 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.  Learn More about National Park Designations.


How many employees are in the National Park Service?

  • Employees (permanent) - 15,729
  • Temporary and Seasonals - 5,548
  • Volunteers in Parks - 90,000


  • How many people visit the National Parks?

    Total recreation visitors to the National Parks in 1999: 287,130,879


    What is the National Park Service Budget?

    FY 1999 Appropriation - $1.7 billion
    FY 2000 Request - $2.0 billion


    How do I make reservations for camping/lodging in the National Parks?

    For campground reservations go here. Not all parks participate in this service, many campgrounds are first come, first served. For more information on specific camping and lodging services offered at the park(s) of your interest, please check their homepage by using our "Visit Your Parks" feature.


    What are concessions?

    There are more than 500 NPS concessionaires which vary in size from small, family-owned businesses to national/international corporations. Concessionaires provide park visitors with lodging, transportation, food services, shops, and other services.


    What is the largest/smallest National Park?

    Largest - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK - l3.2 million

    Smallest - Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, PA - 0.02

    • Current information on acreage is also available!


    What is the origin of the National Park Service Arrowhead?

    The arrowhead was authorized as the official National Park Service emblem by the Secretary of the Interior on July 20, 1951. The Sequoia tree and bison represent vegetation and wildlife, the mountains and water represent scenic and recreational values, and the arrowhead represents historical and archeological values. It was registered Feb. 9, 1965, by the U.S. Patent Office as the official emblem of the NPS. Further information on the Arrowhead, including definitions, uses, powers to revoke uses, and penalties for wrongful use can be found in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations 11.1-4.


     

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    Last Updated:Tuesday, 20-Jul-04 16:04:25
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