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Big Bend National ParkWax factory at Glenn Springs, 1916
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Big Bend National Park
Designations
Basin junction, 1930s
NPS/Big Bend National Park
Basin junction, 1930s. From 1933 until the national park was formally established in June, 1944, Big Bend was a Texas state park.
 
In 1933, the state of Texas established Texas Canyons State Park, using 15 school sections owned by the state. Lands forfeited for non payment of taxes were quickly added and the name was changed. By October 27, 1933, Big Bend State Park included about 160,000 acres. In 1935, on June 20, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill that authorized the establishment of Big Bend National Park. On June 6, 1944 a deed for about 700,000 acres was formally presented to President Roosevelt and Big Bend was established June 12, 1944 as a National Park by Congressional Act signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976.

Designations
Globally Important Bird Area - September 2001
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - October 26, 1976
National Park (established) - June 12, 1944
National Park (authorized) - June 20, 1935
Texas Canyons State Park - May 27, 1933
Blacktailed rattlesnake  

Did You Know?
Poisonous snakes found in Big Bend National Park include the western diamondback rattlesnake, the Mojave rattlesnake, the blacktailed rattlesnake, the rock rattlesnake, and the Trans Pecos copperhead. The most commonly seen snake is the nonpoisonous western coachwhip, or red racer.
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Last Updated: August 05, 2006 at 15:59 EST