America’s vast and wondrous national parks stand at the heart of our story, preserving the lands our ancestors cherished and the unmatched splendor of a continent like no other.  During National Park Week, we celebrate the rich cultural heritage, grandeur, and exceptionalism found in the more than 400 national parks and monuments across our land.

On August 25, 1916, the National Park Service was established to protect our Nation’s natural resources, historic landmarks, and magnificent landscapes.  For more than a century, our treasured parks, battlefields, and monuments have stood as hallmarks of the American Spirit, drawing enthusiasts from all walks of life to seek out places of historical significance along with some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders—from coastal landscapes, pristine glacial lakes, and rugged forests to rushing waterfalls, hiking trails, and wild game found nowhere else on Earth.

My Administration is committed to protecting every acre of our lands and preserving the cleanest air and water in the world.  During my first term, I was proud to sign the Great American Outdoors Act—the most significant conservation policy since President Teddy Roosevelt—to address prior mismanagement, maintenance backlogs, and critical infrastructure needs in our national parks and public lands.  Upon returning to office, I signed the Make America Beautiful Again Executive Order, establishing a commission devoted to promoting voluntary stewardship of our lands, expanding outdoor access, cutting needless regulations, and recovering imperiled species all while growing our economy and protecting the time-honored integrity of our national parks.  In response, the Commission issued its Make America Beautiful Again report, calling on the American people, private businesses, and non-profit groups to partner with the federal government and each other to ensure that the next 250 years of our great nation are beautiful, successful, and secure.  To mark this milestone year for the National Park Service, I am pleased to announce that on August 25 our national parks will be open free of charge to residents of the United States, giving families the opportunity to see firsthand the natural beauty of our magnificent Republic.  Under my leadership, we will make America’s Great Outdoors a source of national pride and breathtaking splendor once again, vowing always to defend our God-given heritage through responsible conservation and bold restoration efforts. 

As our Nation commemorates 250 glorious years of Independence, we give thanks for the abundant natural resources of our homeland and for the generations of Americans whose labor preserved these treasures.  Together, we will ensure that our majestic national parks endure as a source of adventure, respite, inspiration, and awe for generations to come.