Editing National Park Service (section)

==National Park System==
{{See also|List of the United States National Park System official units|List of areas in the United States National Park System}}
{{Further|African-American Heritage Sites|Hispanic Heritage Sites|Native American Heritage Sites (National Park Service)|Women's history sites (National Park Service)}}
[[File:Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset.jpeg|thumb|[[Grand Canyon National Park]], south rim of canyon.]]

The National Park System includes all properties managed by the National Park Service, which have a wide variety of titles or designations. The system as a whole is considered to be a [[national treasure]] of the United States, and some of the more famous national parks and monuments are sometimes referred to as "[[crown jewels]]".<ref>Lee, Ronald F.; Family Tree of the National Park System; Eastern National Parks, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1972; pg 9–12</ref>

The system encompasses approximately {{Convert|85.1|e6acre|e6km2|abbr=unit}}, of which {{Convert|2.6|e6acre|e6km2|abbr=unit}} remain in private ownership. The largest unit is [[Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve|Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve]], Alaska. At 13,200,000&nbsp;acres (53,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), it is over 16 percent of the entire system. The smallest unit in the system is [[Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial]], [[Pennsylvania]], at 0.02&nbsp;acres (80&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>).

In addition to administering its units and other properties, the NPS also provides technical and financial assistance to several affiliated areas authorized by Congress. The largest affiliated area is [[New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve]] at 1,164,025&nbsp;acres (4711&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). The smallest is [[Benjamin Franklin National Memorial]] at less than {{convert|0.01|acre|m2}}.

While there are laws generally covering all units of the National Park System, they are subject to management policies of individual pieces of authorizing legislation or, in the case of national monuments created under the [[Antiquities Act]], [[Executive order|Executive Order]]. For example, because of provisions within their enabling legislation, [[Congaree National Park]] is almost entirely a [[National Wilderness Preservation System|wilderness area]] devoid of development, yet Yosemite allows unique developments such as the [[Badger Pass Ski Area]] and the [[Hetch Hetchy|O'Shaughnessy Dam]] within its boundaries. Such irregularities would not be found in other parks unless specifically provided for with exceptions by the legislation that created them.

===Holdings===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type
! colspan="2" | Amount (2008)<ref name="director">''National Park Service, 2008 Director's Report''; National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior; Washington, D.C.; 2009</ref>
|-
| Area of land
| {{convert|84000000|acre|km2|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|-
| Area of oceans, lakes, reservoirs
| {{convert|4502644|acre|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|-
| Length of perennial rivers and streams
| {{convert|85049|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|-
| Archeological sites
| colspan="2" |{{right|68,561}}
|-
| Length of shoreline
| {{convert|43162|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|-
| Historic structures
| colspan="2" |{{right|27,000}}
|-
| Objects in museum collections
| colspan="2" |{{right|121,603,193}}
|-
| Buildings
| colspan="2" | {{right|21,000}}
|-
| Trails
| {{convert|12250|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|-
| Roads
| {{convert|8500|mi|km|abbr=on|disp=table}}
|}

===Criteria===
Most NPS units have been established by an act of Congress, with the president confirming the action by signing the act into law. The exception, under the [[Antiquities Act]], allows the president to designate and protect areas as national monuments by executive order. Regardless of the method used, all parks are to be of national importance.<ref>Criteria for Parklands brochure; Department of the Interior, National Park Service; 1990</ref>

A potential park should meet all four of the following standards:<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Chapter 1: The Foundation|url=https://www.nps.gov/policy/mp/chapter1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419002711/https://www.nps.gov/policy/mp/chapter1.htm|archive-date=2021-04-19|access-date=2021-02-02|website=National Park Service}}</ref>
* It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.
* It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of the nation's heritage.
* It offers superlative opportunities for recreation, for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.
* It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource.
Before creation of a new unit, Congress typically directs the NPS to conduct a special resource study of a site to determine its national significance and suitability to be part of the National Park System.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2022 |title=National Park System: Establishing New Units |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS20158 |publisher=Congressional Research Service |access-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106174424/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS20158 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first1=Rob |last1=Hotakainen |first2=Kevin |last2=Bogardus |date=2023-01-24 |title=Frustrations mount as National Park Service studies pile up |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/frustrations-mount-as-national-park-service-studies-pile-up/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=E&E News |language=en-US |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219204016/https://www.eenews.net/articles/frustrations-mount-as-national-park-service-studies-pile-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Nomenclature===
The NPS uses over 20 different titles for the park units it manages, including ''national park'' and ''national monument''.<ref name="NPSAboutus">{{Cite web |title=National Park System (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm |date=Nov 4, 2020 |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420174702/https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
! Classifications (2023)<ref>The National Parks: Index 2009–2011, Official Index of the National Park Service, Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.; March 1, 2009</ref>
! Number (2024)
! Area (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=AcreageReports - Land and Water Conservation Fund |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/acreagereports.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=U.S. National Park Service |language=en}}</ref>
! Visitors (2023)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Stats Report Viewer |url=https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/National%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Ranking%20Report%20(1979%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year) |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=irma.nps.gov}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of national parks of the United States|National Park]]
| {{right|63}}
| {{right|{{convert|52520984.26|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|92,390,204}}
|-
| [[National monument (United States)|National Monument]]
| {{right|87}}
| {{right|{{convert|1993636.12|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|13,786,614}}
|-
| [[National Lakeshore]] (3) and [[National Seashore]] (10)
| {{right|13}}
| {{right|{{convert|810799.10|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|25,763,241}}
|-
| [[National Memorial (United States)|National Memorial]]
| {{right|31}}
| {{right|{{convert|10499.77|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|41,152,084}}
|-
| [[National Preserve]] (19) and National Reserve (2)
| {{right|21}}
| {{right|{{convert|24617971.50|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|5,168,136}}
|-
| [[National Recreation Area]]
| {{right|18}}
| {{right|{{convert|3710771.17|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|51,443,904}}
|-
| [[National River]] (4) and [[National Wild and Scenic River]] (10)
| {{right|14}}
| {{right|{{convert|696717.08|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|5,570,302}}
|-
| [[National Parkway]]
| {{right|4}}
| {{right|{{convert|183952.75|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|32,316,093}}
|-
| [[National Historical Park]] (63), [[National Historic Site (United States)|National Historic Site]] (76), and [[International Historic Site]] (1)
| {{right|140}}
| {{right|{{convert|231558.77|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|35,738,635}}
|-
| [[National Military Park]] (9), [[National Battlefield Park]] (4), [[National Battlefield Site]] (1), and [[National Battlefield]] (11)
| {{right|25}}
| {{right|{{convert|85009.53|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|8,568,423}}
|-
| [[National Scenic Trail]]
| {{right|6}}
| {{right|{{convert|255177.96|acre|km2|0}}}}
| Not available
|-
| Other Designations
| {{right|11}}
| {{right|{{convert|38889.24|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|7,619,103}}
|-
| Totals
| {{right|433}}
| {{right|{{convert|85155967.25|acre|km2|0}}}}
| {{right|319,516,739}}
|}
'''[[List of national parks of the United States|National parks]]''' preserve nationally and globally significant scenic areas and nature reserves.
{{National parks of the United States}}

'''[[National monument (United States)|National monuments]]''' preserve a single unique cultural or natural feature. [[Devils Tower National Monument]] was the first in 1906. While the National Park Service holds the most national monuments, a monument may be managed or co-managed by a different entity such as the [[Bureau of Land Management]] or the [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]].
{{National Monuments of the United States}}

'''[[National preserve]]s''' are for the protection of certain resources and operate similar to many National Parks, but allow limited resource extraction. Activities like hunting, fishing, and some mining may be allowed depending on the site. [[Big Cypress National Preserve]] and [[Big Thicket|Big Thicket National Preserve]] were created in 1974 as the first national preserves.

'''National reserves''' are similar to national preserves, but the operational authority can be placed with a state or local government. [[New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve]] was the first to be established in 1978.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/pine/index.htm National Park Service: "New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427162919/http://www.nps.gov/pine/index.htm|date=April 27, 2012}}. Retrieved September 2, 2010.</ref>

[[File:Custom House - Salem, Massachusetts.JPG|thumb|right|Customs House at the [[Salem Maritime National Historic Site]] in [[Salem, Massachusetts]]]]'''[[National Historic Sites (United States)|National historic sites]]''' protect a significant cultural resource that is not a complicated site.

'''National historical parks''' are larger areas with more complex subjects. Historic sites may also be protected in other unit types.
{{National Historical Parks of the United States}}

[[File:Gettysburg entrance.JPG|thumb|Winter at the [[Gettysburg National Military Park|Gettysburg Battlefield]]]]
[[National Military Park|'''National military parks''', '''battlefield parks''', '''battlefield sites''', and '''battlefields''']] preserve areas associated with military history. The different designations reflect the complexity of the event and the site. Many of the sites preserve important Revolutionary War battles and Civil War battlefields. ''Military parks'' are the sites of larger actions, such as [[Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park]], [[Vicksburg National Military Park]], [[Gettysburg National Military Park]], and [[Shiloh National Military Park]]—the original four from 1890.

Examples of ''battlefield parks'', ''battlefield sites'', and ''national battlefields'' include [[Richmond National Battlefield Park]], [[Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site]], and [[Antietam National Battlefield]].

[[List of national memorials of the United States|'''National memorials''']] are areas that officially memorialize a person or event, though unlike a National Historical Site, may or may not be placed at a specific historical location. Several national memorials are on the [[National Mall]], such as the [[Washington Monument]] and [[Lincoln Memorial]].

[[List of United States national lakeshores and seashores|'''National seashores''' and '''national lakeshores''']] offer preservation of the national coast line, while supporting water–based recreation. [[Cape Hatteras National Seashore]] was created in 1937. [[Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore]] and [[Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore]], created in 1966, were the first national lakeshores.

[[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|'''National rivers''' and '''wild and scenic riverways''']] protect free-flowing streams over their length. The riverways may not be altered with dams, channelization, or other changes. Recreational pursuits are encouraged along the waterways. [[Ozark National Scenic Riverways]] was established in 1964.
{{SeashoreLakes}}

'''[[National Recreation Area|National recreation areas]]''' originally were units surrounding reservoirs impounded by dams built by other federal agencies, the first being [[Lake Mead National Recreation Area]]. Some national recreation areas are in urban centers, such as [[Gateway National Recreation Area]] and [[Golden Gate National Recreation Area]], which encompass significant cultural as well as natural resources.
{{USNRAs}}

The '''[[National Trails System]]''' preserves long-distance routes across America. The system was created in 1968 and consists of two major components: '''National scenic trails''' are long-distance trails through some of the most scenic parts of the country. They received official protection in 1968. The [[Appalachian Trail]] is the best known. '''National historic trails''' commemorate the routes of major historic events. Some of the best known are the [[Trail of Tears]], the [[Mormon Trail]], and the [[Santa Fe Trail]]. These trails are administered by several federal agencies.
{{TrailSystem}}

===Special designations===
[[Wilderness]] areas are part of the [[National Wilderness Preservation System]], which consists of federally managed lands that are of a pristine condition, established by the [[Wilderness Act]] (Public Law 88-577) in 1964. The National Wilderness Preservation System originally created hundreds of [[List of wilderness areas of the United States|wilderness zones]] within already protected federally administered property, consisting of over 9 million acres (36,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>).

[[Marine Protected Area]]s (MPAs) began with Executive Order 13158 in May 2000, when official MPAs were established for the first time.<ref name="FR75100">Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 100; Tuesday, May 25, 2010; pg 29317</ref> The initial listing of U.S. areas was presented in 2010, consisting of areas already set aside under other legislation. The NPS has 19 park units designated as MPAs.<ref name=FR75100/>