Today,
roughly 60% of the 391 park areas administered by the National Park
Service have been set aside as symbols and evidence of our history and
prehistory. Many of our natural parks contain historic places that
represent important aspects of that history. Collectively, these places
present an American history textbook, a textbook that educates us about
the people, events, buildings, objects, landscapes, and artifacts of the
American past and about the aspirations and actions that produced those
tangible survivors. The National Park Service's history web site
represents varying aspects of this history. It emphasizes the
educational value of historic places and the importance of the stories
that connect us to them. Our goal is to offer a window into the
historical richness of the National Park System and the opportunities it
presents for understanding who we are, where we have been, and how we as
a society, might approach the future. This collection of special places
also allows us to examine our pastthe contested along with the
comfortable, the complex along with the simple, the controversial along
with the inspirational. We hope, in addition, that these pages will
contribute to a national discussion of history and its importance to
contemporary society.
National Park Service History
Administrative History Studies and Guide for the National Park Service
NPS administrative histories look at the history of federal parks and the
National Park Service as public programs and as a public trust. They analyze
individual parks and their establishment and administration, as well as
NPS programs and policies.
History of the National Park Service
A collection of short essays and online books concerning
different aspects of the history of the National Park Service
'Classic' National Park Service Publications
Classic National Park Service histories are old publications, now
out-of-print, on a variety of subjects that tell the stories of our
parks and resources
National Historic Landmark Theme Studies
National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic
places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess
exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the
heritage of the United States. Read some of our best theme studies
completed in the last few years.
Submerged Cultural Resource Reports
Submerged Cultural Resource Reports document the increasing awareness of America's underwater cultural heritage.
These reports illustrate the richness and international importance of submerged resources in the National Park System.
Read some of our best submerged cultural resource report and studies completed in the last few years.
Park and Historic Preservation Laws
Federal laws and portions of laws that pertain to the preservation of
the Nation's cultural heritage.
National Park Service Archives, Records, and Research
A series of links to sites within the National Park Service where
maps, photographs, documents and the official records in National
Archives relating to the History of the National Park Service can be
found
National Park Service: Geology
The National Parks preserve spectacular icons of our nation's geologic heritage and contain some of the world's finest
examples of geologic phenomena. From glaciers to barrier islands, from volcanoes to dinosaurs, the parks have it all
including arches, canyons, caves, mountains and sand dunes. Here, we present a list of some premier geologic publications
for the National Parks. These memorable publications provide a wealth of information about the geological wonders present
in our National Parks. For additional information please visit the following web site.
Useful Books
Our list of recommended books pertaining to the History of the
National Parks and National Park Service
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