Which U.S. national park was established first, in 1872?

Yellowstone National Park was the first U.S. national park, established in 1872.

President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act on March 1, 1872. The law set aside a large area around the Yellowstone River’s headwaters as a public park for people’s benefit and enjoyment. Yellowstone spans parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, although most of its area lies in Wyoming.

The park’s creation followed expeditions that publicized its geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, lakes, and other unusual features. The 1871 Hayden Geological Survey, supported by photographs and paintings, helped persuade Congress that the region should be protected rather than auctioned for private development.

Yellowstone is often described as the world’s first national park, though the exact wording depends on how earlier protected landscapes are classified. It is famous for Old Faithful, abundant wildlife, and an enormous volcanic system beneath the park.