Which site became the first U.S. national park, a landmark in the American story celebrated by America250?

Yellowstone National Park became the first U.S. national park in 1872.

President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act on March 1, 1872. The law set aside the region as a public park and prohibited private settlement, sale, or occupation within its boundaries.

Yellowstone covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho and is famous for geysers, hot springs, wildlife, and volcanic geology. Its protection established a model later followed by national parks in the United States and other countries.

Yosemite had received federal protection before Yellowstone became a national park, but it was not the first national park under the 1872 designation. Yellowstone’s status is therefore distinct from earlier scenic reserves and later parks such as Yosemite and Grand Canyon.