National Park Service Day
When is National Park Service Day? This holiday is always celebrated on August 25
It’s late summer and the weather is great. Today is the perfect time to explore the beauty of nature. And it’s National Park Service Day. This August 25 holiday is sometimes called National Park Service Founders Day. It exists to show our appreciation for the many park rangers, service and maintenance personnel, as well as the many volunteers who serve to protect and preserve our beautiful national parks. And, they also work to keep you safe during your visit.
According to their website, the National Park Service was established “to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations”. It’s a daunting task. So, while you are there, we encourage you to do your best to avoid causing any harm to the park itself, or to the wildlife.
On this holiday, many of the parks host birthday celebrations with special events and activities. It is a great day to take a break from your busy life at home and get away to relax at one of our well-maintained national parks.
Did You Know? There are over 400 national parks in the United States.
What Our National Parks Offer
Head to the great outdoors to get in touch with nature and all of the natural beauty the earth has to offer. The parks are open to visitors during all seasons. However, weather and seasonal conditions can result in the closure of some of all of a park to protect the park, wildlife, and visitors.
With over 84 million acres in total, there is something for everyone. Some parks offer woods, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, streams, and many natural sites to explore and photograph. Speaking of nature, you can see all kinds of wildlife, including wild buffalo, and countless animals in their natural setting. Not all parks are about the wilderness and wildlife. Some parks are dedicated to national monuments and historical events, too.
If you visit the parks often, chances are you’ll come upon bears and other dangerous animals. For your safety and the safety of your group, keep your distance and leave them alone.
Do it your way. Many parks offer cabins, along with RV and tenting sites. You can hike, backpack, and in some cases bicycle through established trails. Be adventuresome and canoe or kayak on the many lakes and streams. Or you can take your car on road routes through some of the parks with many scenic pullover locations that are perfect for a selfie with a fantastic scene in the background.
National Park Service Trivia
Here are some great FAQs to amaze your friends with your knowledge of parks:
- There are over 400 national parks in the United States.
- Our national parks cover over 84 million acres.
- Over 300 million people visit our national parks annually.
- Yellowstone Park is the first national park. It was created by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872.
- The smallest park is Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania. It is just 0.2 acres.
- The largest is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska. It covers 13.2 million acres.
- Forests cover over 30% of the land in the world.
- Over 15.3 billion trees are cut down every year.
Free Entrance Days to National Parks
The National Park Service offers free entrance to all parks on the following dates:
- The third Monday in January to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The first day of National Park Week in April, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 23: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
Important Note: The dates of free park entrance can vary from year to year. Make sure to check the National Park Service website before you go.
How to Participate in National Park Service Day
Here are some ideas on how to participate in National Park Service Day:
- Discover the beauty of a national park near you.
- Visit one you’ve never seen before.
- Share pictures of your visit on social media.
- Thank the rangers you meet while you are there.
- Volunteer at your local national park. There are numerous volunteer positions.
Today's Quote
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” – – Robert Frost
History and Origin of National Park Service Day
We know a lot about the details around the creation of the National Park Service. On August 25, 1916, then-President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act establishing the National Park Service. Since then, the number of parks has grown from 35 to over 400.
We did not find any information about who created this holiday. The earliest reference we found to this holiday was in 2015. We did not find any documentation confirming this to be a “National” day. We found no congressional records or presidential proclamation.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
Related Holidays
More August 25 Holidays
Here are more August 25 holidays we are certain you will enjoy:
More About Today
Flower of the Day: Gladiolus
Recipe of the Day: Tomato Juice
Ecards Send a free Ecard daily for just about any August calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Or, just for the fun of it!
Holiday Insights, where every day in August is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. August holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.