National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Mount Rushmore National MemorialSample of Honeycomb rock on display in the Lincoln Borglum Museum at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Centennial Initiative

Centennial Vision
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, America invites the world to discover the meaning of national parks to their lives and inspires people to both experience and become devoted to these special places.

On August 25, 2006, the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment. Since then the National Park Service asked citizens, park partners, experts and other stakeholders what they envisioned for a second century of national parks.

A nationwide series of more than 40 listening sessions produced more than 6,000 comments that helped to shape five centennial goals. The goals and vision were presented to President Bush and to the American people on May 31st in a report called The Future of America's National Parks.

Every national park staff took their lead from this report and created local centennial strategies to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016. This is just the first year, and there are many great things to come as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years!

To keep up with the Centennial Initiative and to experience the interactive version of the Future of America's National Parks and special features please visit the centennial website.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Centennial Strategy

Mount Rushmore Centennial Initiative Press Release

National Park Service 2016 website

Jefferson on Washington's left  

Did You Know?
Did you know that the figure of Thomas Jefferson was started on Washington's right? after 18 months of carving the figure of Jefferson had to be dynamited off the mountain and restarted on the left of Washington.

Last Updated: May 08, 2008 at 19:12 EST