Free admission to all national parks Tuesday as NPS marks birthday
People at Delicate Arch waiting for sunset in Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, United States. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The National Park Service is celebrating its founding on Tuesday and wants everyone to come join them. To make it even easier to attend the birthday celebration, the park service will waive entrance fees at all locations that would normally charge them.
Big picture view:
On Tuesday, the NPS will mark 110 years since being founded on August 25, 1916, with the mission to "preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
Since then, the agency has expanded to include more than 400 national parks and created many more programs to reach outdoor lovers, history buffs, and the millions of others who take advantage of the parks every year.
Why you should care:
Penn State University’s Derrick Taff pointed out that the fee-free day is one of eight this year. He noted that it comes on the eve of many children having to go back to school and when the parks are less crowded, saying that helps make this a great time to go.
Taff goes on to argue that visiting the parks is good for our health. The ecosystems provide water and clean air, he explained. Taff indicated that studies have demonstrated that visiting outdoor recreation sites can make people happier and healthier.
What they're saying:
"Our national parks are so unique," Taff continued. "You know, they vary from your Yellowstone that focuses on wildlife and geysers to right here in our state, Gettysburg National Historic Park, celebrating our cultural history. It's something that belongs to all of us as American citizens. It is ours. It is our space to hold and protect and enjoy in perpetuity."
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What you can do:
Anyone who wants to take advantage of the free admission on Tuesday or help the NPS celebrate but does not know where their nearest one is can find a full list here.
What's next:
While the fee-free day is only on its birthday, there will be festivities all week, kicking off Sunday with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix at the National Mall, which is administered by the National Park Service.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the National Park Service, Penn State University, and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.