August 25, 2016

The National Park Service (NPS) celebrated its centennial on August 25, 2016, marking 100 years of stewardship of America's national parks and engagement of communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs.

NPS has planned hundreds of events during August, and is granting free admission to all 412 national parks from August 25-28 to encourage people to join in on the celebration. In June, President Obama celebrated the anniversary at Yosemite National Park. A virtual reality module of his experience is available on the White House webpage.

The fiscal year (FY) 2017 President’s budget request, along with the House and Senate appropriations committees’ Interior and Environment appropriations bills, include language to increase funding for NPS in FY 2017 but the budget has not yet been agreed.

Source: House Appropriations Committee, National Park Service, Senate Appropriations Committee, White House

Updated 9/7/2016