Chickasaw National Recreation Area is one of the oldest units in the national park system. Its history reflects both the development of the National Park Service and the care that Americans have taken to preserve and protect places that have much meaning for the public. Chickasaw National Recreation Area protects unique resources, springs, streams, lakes and other natural features, safeguards and interprets the area’s cultural history, and provides for public education, appreciation, and the recreational use and enjoyment of these resources.