On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation creating the National Park Service. The new agency was charged with managing national parks and monuments “for the enjoyment of future generations.” Before that, parks existed but were managed in a less coordinated way. The Park Service professionalized conservation, visitor services, and resource protection. Its work helped protect landscapes ranging from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon. The agency became a model for protected-area management worldwide.
