Which U.S. national park, established in 1872, became the first of its kind in the history America250 celebrates?

Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park when it was established on March 1, 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act creating the protected area.

The park spans parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It is known for geothermal features including Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and one of the world’s largest active volcanic systems. Its landscapes also support bison, elk, grizzly bears, wolves, and many other species.

The park’s creation established a new model of public land conservation. The law reserved the area for the benefit and enjoyment of people and prohibited private settlement, sale, or occupation of the designated land. Later national parks and protected areas adopted related ideas.

Yellowstone is sometimes confused with Yosemite, which received federal protection earlier through an 1864 land grant but became a national park in 1890. Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919.