7 Awesome Facts About National Parks

Kirsten SchraderUpdated: Nov. 15, 2023

Celebrate over 100 years of America's National Park Service with these fascinating facts about our country's natural and historic wonders.

How Many National Parks Are in America?

There are 62 national parks in the United States and 422 total sites in the National Park System. Check out spectacular photographs of America’s national parks that will leave you awestruck.

Which President Signed the National Park Act?

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, signed the National Park Service Organic Act on Aug. 25, 1916, making the National Park Service a part of the federal government. These are the 15 best places to camp in national parks.

What Was the First National Park?

Before there was an official National Park Service, Ulysses S. Grant signed off on what would become the first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872. Enjoy 20 amazing wildlife photos in Yellowstone National Park.

What is the Smallest National Park Site?

The smallest national park site is Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania at .02 acres. Psst—these 5 national parks are perfect for social distancing.

What is the Longest Cave on Earth?

At 405 miles, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is the longest known cave system in the world. Discover the 15 best national park road trips to take all year long.

How Large is the National Park System?

The National Parks cover more than 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Check out 35 national parks you can tour online right now.

How Many People Work for the National Park Service?

The National Park Service employs 20,000 people and has 279,000 volunteers. Discover 10 spectacular national park birding sites.

Originally Published: November 05, 2020

Kirsten Schrader

Kirsten has more than 15 years of experience writing and editing birding and gardening content. As content director of Birds & Blooms, she leads the team of editors and freelance writers sharing tried-and-true advice for nature enthusiasts who love to garden and feed birds in their backyards. Since joining Birds & Blooms 17 years ago, Kirsten has held roles in digital and print, editing direct-to-consumer books, running as many as five magazines as a time and managing special interest publications. Kirsten has traveled to see amazing North American birds, and attended various festivals, including Sedona Hummingbird Festival, Rio Grande Bird Festival, The Biggest Week in American Birding Festival and Cape May Spring Festival. She has also witnessed the epic sandhill crane migration while on a photography workshop trip to Colorado. Kirsten has participated in several GardenComm and Outdoor Writers Association of America annual conferences and is a member of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. When she's not researching, writing and editing all things birding and gardening, Kirsten is enjoying the outdoors with her nature-loving family. She and her husband are slowly chipping away at making their small acreage the backyard of their dreams.