The National Parks: Index 2005-2007 Revised to Include the Actions of the 108th Congress ending December 31, 2004 Produced by the Office of Public Affairs and Harpers Ferry Center National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 1 About this Book This index is a complete administrative listing of the Nation- al Park System’s areas and related areas. It is revised bienni- ally to reflect congressional actions. The entries, grouped by state, include administrative addresses and phone numbers, dates of authorization and establishment, boundary change dates, acreages, and brief statements explaining the areas’ national significance. This book is not intended as a guide for park visitors. There is no information regarding campgrounds, trails, visitor services, hours, etc. Those needing such informa- tion can visit each area’s web site, accessible through the Na- tional Park Service ParkNet home page (www.nps.gov). The Mission of the National Park Service The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Govern- ment Printing Office, Stop SSOP,Washington, DC 20402- 0001, or through the Internet at bookstore.gpo.gov. ISBN 10: 0-912627-75-1 ISBN 13: 9780912627755 Contents Part 1 Introduction 4 National Park System 6 Nomenclature of Park System Areas 7 Designation of Wilderness Areas 8 Parks in the Nation’s Capital 9 Related Areas 9 Regional Offices 9 Maps of the National Park System 10 Statistical Summary 13 Part 2 Listing of National Park System Areas by State 14 Part 3 Related Areas 94 Affiliated Areas 96 National Heritage Areas 101 National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 107 National Trails System 112 Alphabetical Listing 120 Part 1 Introduction Grand Canyon National Park 4 5 National Park System On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wil- son signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Depart- ment of the Interior responsible for protect- ing the 35 national parks and monuments then managed by the department and those yet to be established. This “Organic Act” states that “the Service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations . by such means and mea- sures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments and reserva- tions, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unim- paired for the enjoyment of future genera- tions.” The National Park Service still strives to meet those original goals, while filling many other roles as well: guardian of our diverse cultural and recreational resources; environ- mental advocate; world leader in the parks and preservation community; and pioneer in the drive to protect America’s open space. The National Park System of the United States comprises 388 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 49 States, the District of Columbia,American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. These areas are of such national significance as to justify special recognition and protection in accordance with various acts of Congress. By the Act of March 1, 1872, Congress es- Lincoln Memorial tablished Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the ben- efit and enjoyment of the people” and placed it “under exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior.” The founding of Yellowstone National Park began a worldwide national park movement. Today more than 100 nations contain some 1,200 national parks or equiva- lent preserves. In the years following the establishment of Yellowstone, the United States authorized ad- ditional national parks and monuments, most of them carved from the federal lands of the West. These, also, were administered by the Department of the Interior, while other mon- uments and natural and historical areas were administered as separate units by the War De- partment and the Forest Service of the De- 6 partment of Agriculture. No single agency tures of land or water of great scenic and sci- provided unified management of the varied entific quality and are usually designated as federal parklands. national parks, monuments, preserves, sea- An Executive Order in 1933 transferred 56 shores, lakeshores, or riverways. Such areas national monuments and military sites from contain one or more distinctive attributes the Forest Service and the War Department such as forest, grassland, tundra, desert, estu- to the National Park Service. This action was ary, or river systems; they may contain win- a major step in the development of today’s dows on the past for a view of geological his- truly national system of parks—a system that tory; they may contain imposing landforms includes areas of historical as well as scenic such as mountains, mesas, thermal areas, and and scientific importance. caverns; and they may be habitats of abun- Congress declared in the General Authori- dant or rare wildlife and plantlife. ties Act of 1970 “that the National Park Sys- Generally, a national park contains a vari- tem, which began with the establishment of ety of resources and encompasses large land Yellowstone National Park in 1872, has since or water areas to help provide adequate pro- grown to include superlative natural, historic, tection of the resources. and recreation areas in every region ...and A national monument is intended to pre- that it is the purpose of this Act to include all serve at least one nationally significant re- such areas in the System....” source. It is usually smaller than a national Additions to the National Park System are park and lacks its diversity of attractions. now generally made through acts of Con- In 1974, Big Cypress and Big Thicket were gress, and national parks can be created only authorized as the first national preserves.This through such acts. But the President has au- category is established primarily for the pro- thority, under the Antiquities Act of 1906, to tection of certain resources. Activities such as proclaim national monuments on lands al- hunting and fishing or the extraction of min- ready under federal jurisdiction. The Secre- erals and fuels may be permitted if they do tary of the Interior is usually asked by Con- not jeopardize the natural values. National re- gress for recommendations on proposed ad- serves are similar to the preserves. Manage- ditions to the System. The Secretary is coun- ment may be transferred to local or state au- seled by the National Park System Advisory thorities. The first reserve, City of Rocks, was Board, composed of private citizens, which established in 1988. advises on possible additions to the System Preserving shoreline areas and off-shore is- and policies for its management. lands, the national lakeshores and national seashores focus on the preservation of natural Nomenclature of Park System Areas values while at the same time providing The diversity of the parks is reflected in the water-oriented recreation. Although national variety of titles given to them. These include lakeshores can be established on any natural such designations as national park, national freshwater lake, the existing four are all lo- preserve, national monument, national cated on the Great Lakes. The national sea- memorial, national historic site, national shores are on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific seashore, and national battlefield park. coasts. Although some titles are self-explanatory, National rivers and wild and scenic river- others have been used in many different ways preserve ribbons of land bordering on ways. For example, the title “national monu- free-flowing streams which have not been ment” has been given to natural reservations, dammed, channelized, or otherwise altered. historic military fortifications, prehistoric Besides preserving rivers in their natural ruins, fossil sites, and to the Statue of Liberty. state, these areas provide opportunities for In recent years, both Congress and the Na- outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, tional Park Service have attempted to sim- and hunting. plify the nomenclature and to establish basic National scenic trails are generally long- criteria for use of the different official titles. distance footpaths winding through areas of Brief definitions of the most common titles natural beauty. follow. Although best known for its great scenic Areas added to the National Park System parks, more than half the areas of the National for their natural values are expanses or fea- Park System preserve places and commemo- 7 rate persons, events, and activities important ation areas outside the National Park System in the nation’s history. These range from that are administered by the Forest Service, archeological sites associated with prehistoric U.S. Department of Agriculture. Indian civilizations to sites related to the lives National parkways encompass ribbons of of modern Americans. Historical areas are land flanking roadways and offer an opportu- customarily preserved or restored to reflect nity for driving through areas of scenic inter- their appearance during the period of their est.They are not designed for high speed travel. greatest historical significance. Besides the four areas set aside as parkways, In recent years, national historic site has other units of the National Park System in- been the title most commonly applied by clude parkways within their boundaries. Congress in authorizing the addition of such One area of the National Park System has areas to the National Park System.A wide va- been set aside primarily as a site for the per- riety of titles—national military park, national forming arts.