The U.S. National Park Service turns 109

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Monday, August 25 marks 109 years since President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Act.

The National Park Service (NPS) draws over 318 million visitors each year, and is run by around 20,000 staff members and over 138,000 volunteers.

Yellowstone was the first national park in the United States, established formally in 1872. By the time the NPS was designated in 1916, the U.S. had over 14 national parks that required preservation and organized management.

The inland northwest is home to several national parks, listed by state below:

Washington

Mount Rainier National Park

Olympic National Park

North Cascades National Park

Oregon

Crater Lake National Park

Idaho

Yellowstone National Park

Montana

Yellowstone National Park

Glacier National Park