Which U.S. national park was established first, in 1872, creating the world’s first national park?

Yellowstone National Park was established first, in 1872, creating the world’s first national park.

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 for the benefit and enjoyment of the people and placed it under federal protection.

Yellowstone is famous for its geothermal features, including Old Faithful geyser, hot springs, mud pots, and the Grand Prismatic Spring. It also protects a large ecosystem spanning parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park’s landscape includes the Yellowstone Caldera, one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world.

The idea of a national park developed through exploration, public advocacy, and concern about preserving exceptional scenery. Yellowstone’s creation influenced protected-area systems internationally. A common mix-up is Yosemite, which became a national park in 1890, eighteen years after Yellowstone.