2016 USRETFA (FINAL) copy

O U T D O O R S
PROTECTING OUR STORIES
The National Park Service Turns
100
Acentury ago, the United
States embarked on an
unprecedented journey: the creation
of the national park system.
On August 25, 1916, President
Woodrow Wilson signed into
law The Organic Act, legislation
that established the
National Park Service. The new
agency was created to “promote
and regulate the use of the federal
areas known as national parks,
monuments, and reservations.” It
BY GLENN MORRIS
was the legal endorsement of a profound
national vision; some places
don’t need civilization as much as
civilization needs those places.
Every summer people stream
to our national parks for the
scenery, history, and activity.
July and August bring a crush
of families to nearly every
park. They go to look, to learn,
and to sample from some of the
best vacation bargains in America.
In Washington, DC, the National
186 2016 FARMERS’ ALMANAC