National Park Service History: History of the National Park Service

History of the National Park Service' features adminstrative histories of many well-known parks, information about former Secretaries of the Interior, Directors of NPS, and Chief Historians in addition to other resources

Online Books features over 300 hard to find and out of print books, park studies, administrative histories, historic resource studies, historic structure reports and National Historic Landmark theme studies.

The NPS thematic framework's eight concepts outline the interdisciplinary concerns for use in evaluating the significance and contexts of historic places and building contextual historic-site interpretive and educational programs. A list of parks categorized by areas of significance is also included here.

Research and Education has teaching materials, diversity resources, and addition research information.

National Park Service History

Today, roughly 60% of the 388 park areas administered by the National Park Service have been set aside as symbols and evidence of our history and prehistory. Many of our natural parks contain historic places that represent important aspects of that history. Collectively, these places present an American history textbook, a textbook that educates us about the people, events, buildings, objects, landscapes, and artifacts of the American past and about the aspirations and actions that produced those tangible survivors. The National Park Service's history web site represents varying aspects of this history. It emphasizes the educational value of historic places and the importance of the stories that connect us to them. Our goal is to offer a window into the historical richness of the National Park System and the opportunities it presents for understanding who we are, where we have been, and how we as a society, might approach the future. This collection of special places also allows us to examine our past—the contested along with the comfortable, the complex along with the simple, the controversial along with the inspirational. We hope, in addition, that these pages will contribute to a national discussion of history and its importance to contemporary society.

Thinking About National Park Service History
A collection of essays relating to the past, present and future of the history and history programs of the National Park Service

History of the National Park Service
A collection of short essays and general information concerning different aspects of the history of the National Park Service

National Park Service Archives and Research
A series of links to sites within the National Park Service where maps, photographs and documents relating to the History of the National Park Service can be found

National Park Service Historian's Web Page
A collection of journal articles concerning different aspects of the History of the National Park Service published by National Park Service Historians

Records of the National Park Service and Related Agencies in the National Archives
This site contains information and guides to National Park Service Records in the National Archives of the United States intended for the serious scholar

Useful Books
Our list of recommended books pertaining to the History of the National Parks and National Park Service

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