The National Park Service cares for America's more than 400 national parks…and works in almost every one of her 3,141 counties. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. Find a few selected important places outside the parks here and explore the links for more. Then explore what you can do to share your own stories and the places that matter to you.
Huilua Fishpond, Hawaii: Huilua Fishpond, in Kahana Bay on the Island of Oahu, illustrates the unique aquafarming practices of the Hawaiian people. Hawaiians were the only ancient Polynesian people to build controlled artificial fishponds for their aquafarming.
Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area: highlights the experience of the Native Alaskans, Russians, explores, gold miners, and settlers who traveled through the branching valleys and over the waters of this rugged mountain coordinator. Public lands have preserved this scenic landscape as viewed by early travelers. In this heritage area, the isolated historic communities that developed around transportation and the Gold Rush are dwarfed by the sweeping landscapes, by the magnificence of the mountains and the strength and dominance of nature. The corridor communities share a sense of that it is a special place.
The MotorCities National Heritage Area preserves, promotes and interprets the history of the automotive industry and labor movement in southeast Michigan. Through a variety of educational, community outreach and tourism programs, the MotorCities celebrates the automotive culture by treasuring the past to inspire the future.
Cache La Poudre River National Heritage Area in Colorado: The river has been crucial to the economic development of the region as well as a major recreation area.This area has also contributed to Western water law and the evolution of complex water delivery systems.Visitors can see the many head gates, flumes, water measurement devices, and intricate network of ditches along the Cache la Poudre River, all created to modify the river's flow in an attempt to meet the water need of urban development.