Issues: Wildlands

America's national park system is made up of 388 areas covering more than 83 million acres in every state except Delaware, as well as the Distict of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Established in 1872 by an act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone was the first national park. Today the national park system includes national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks and historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.

Pictured here, a sampling of our national parks -- the living means by which we know and remain connected to our national heritage.

Our thanks to Chris J. Calwell, Chuck Clusen, Jeff Greenburg, and Jack Parsons for the use of their photos.

last revised 2.13.03