On what date was the National Park Service established in the United States?

The National Park Service was established in the United States on August 25, 1916.

President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act on that date. The law created a single federal agency to oversee national parks, monuments, and other protected areas previously administered by different offices.

The agency was created decades after Yellowstone became the first U.S. national park in 1872. Before 1916, the Department of the Interior managed parks individually, sometimes with assistance from the U.S. Army.

The anniversary is often confused with the creation dates of individual parks. Yellowstone dates to 1872, while the National Park Service itself dates to 1916. In 2026, the agency marks its 110th anniversary.