Yellowstone National Park became the world's first national park in 1872, adding an important conservation milestone to America's 250th anniversary story.
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act on March 1, 1872. The law set aside more than two million acres in the territories of Montana and Wyoming as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Yellowstone's geothermal features, wildlife, lakes, and landscapes made it a prominent target for early conservation efforts.
Yellowstone is often described as the first national park, but the concept developed through exploration, scientific observation, photography, and advocacy by many people. Yosemite became a national park in 1890, while Sequoia was established in 1890 and Grand Canyon in 1919. Yellowstone's designation predates all of them.