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America's National Parks

America's National Parks
Magazine
Always available
Always available

It’s been called “America’s best idea”—and its relevance is more timely than ever. There are now 424 parks in the nationally maintained system—more than 85 million acres spanning coast to coast, across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. In 2021, there were 297.1 million recreational visitors to American national parks, proving that these spaces are indeed for the people to appreciate and enjoy. From the oldest to the largest to the most fascinating—this is the story of our national treasures.

America’s NATIONAL PARKS

A Brief History of America’s National Parks • THEY’VE BEEN CALLED “ AMERICA’S BEST IDEA ”—AND THEIR RELEVANCE IS MORE TIMELY THAN EVER

The Oldest • The parks with the longest histories in America

Yellowstone National Park • LOCATION: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming OPENED: 1872

Yosemite National Park • LOCATION: California / OPENED: 1890

Sequoia National Park • LOCATION: California OPENED: 1890

Mount Rainier National Park • LOCATION: Washington OPENED: 1899

Crater Lake National Park • LOCATION: Oregon OPENED: 1902

The Enormous • The largest national parks

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve •  LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 13.2 million acres

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 8.5 million acres

Denali National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 6.1 million acres

Katmai National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 4.3 million acres

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Alaska SIZE: 3.3 million acres

Death Valley National Park • LOCATION: California / SIZE: 3.4 million acres

Everglades National Park • LOCATION: Florida SIZE: 1.5 million acres

Grand Canyon National Park • LOCATION: Arizona SIZE: 1.2 million acres

The Unique • National parks like no other

Biscayne National Park • LOCATION: Florida

Haleakalā National Park • LOCATION: Hawaii

Mammoth Cave National Park • LOCATION: Kentucky

Hot Springs National Park • LOCATION: Arkansas

Channel Islands National Park • LOCATION: California

Congaree National Park • LOCATION: South Carolina

Capitol Reef National Park • LOCATION: Utah

Big Bend National Park • LOCATION: Texas

Petrified Forest National Park • LOCATION: Arizona

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve • LOCATION: Colorado

Great Basin National Park • LOCATION: Nevada

Olympic National Park • LOCATION: Washington

Dry Tortugas National Park • LOCATION: Florida

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park • LOCATION: Hawaii

Mesa Verde National Park • LOCATION: Colorado

The Historic • The national parks with notable backstories

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace • LOCATION: Kentucky

San Juan Island • LOCATION: Washington

Appomattox Court House • LOCATION: Virginia

Blackstone River Valley • LOCATION: Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Palo Alto Battlefield • LOCATION: Texas

Nez Perce • LOCATION: Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington

Chaco Culture • LOCATION: New Mexico

Cumberland Gap • LOCATION: Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia

Dayton Aviation Heritage • LOCATION: Ohio

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad • LOCATION: Maryland

Keweenaw • LOCATION: Michigan

Klondike Gold Rush • LOCATION: Alaska and Washington

America’s National Parks

PHOTO CREDITS

America’s NATIONAL PARKS

Formats

  • OverDrive Magazine

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Languages

  • English

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