Today marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. But not the parks themselves; Yellowstone’s status as a national park was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1892. What this anniversary celebrates is the centennial of the government agency that maintains and protects the parks. And while we’re not keen to put on a birthday hat for the Congressional Budget Office or the Office of Postsecondary Education, if you don’t protect wild spaces they end up looking like the view from Gear Patrol HQ — concrete, trash, and an above-average halal cart.
These are amazing places, as beautiful as anywhere on earth, and for the next three days admission is free. So put on your little conical birthday hat and read on to learn more about our favorite parks and how best to enjoy them.
The National Park Service Centennial
Happy birthday. Let’s party.
