America's Greatest Idea

98 years ago today, the National Park Service was created by Congress. While the Service was established in 1916, the first National Park, Yellowstone, had been created in 1872 and was protected by the US Army. As more and more National Parks came into being, the need for an agency just for the parks became clear.

Stephen Mather, along with other conservationists, pushed for an agency to protect and care for the popular National Parks. Mather was a successful and influential businessman who used his money and power to run a publicity campaign to have the National Park Service created. When it was, he was named the first director.

Mather established the workforce of the Service, making them civil servants from a variety of backgrounds to operate, manage and preserve the parks. When the US Cavalry had protected the Parks in the late 1800s, they wore their uniforms of riding boots, olive tunics and campaign hats, known today as "flat hats." When the Park Service decided to adopt uniforms, the style remained very similar to the original cavalry uniform. 

In the 1930s, management  of Civil War battlefields was added to Park Service responsibilities under the Reorganization Act. Under Mather, only locations of incredible natural beauty had been protected, but now the NPS preserves historical, natural and recreational sites.

The National Parks and their iconic Park Rangers are known throughout the world and have inspired other nations to establish similar systems. Creation of the National Parks has even been called "America's Best Idea." Happy Birthday, National Park Service!