Find Your Park and Celebrate the 99th Birthday of the National Park Service

Date: August 18, 2015

The National Park Service is turning 99 years old on August 25 and Death Valley National Park wants to give you a present –free admission! The usual entrance fee of $20 per vehicle will be waived for all visitors on August 25. Come to the park and view the spectacular night sky, hike a peak, or see the lowest spot in North America.

In preparation for next year's big centennial celebration, the National Park Service is inviting everyone to Find Your Park. To encourage people to discover everything a park experience can be, there is a fun list of 99 ways to Find Your Park. Death Valley is a great place to try #8 –Experience Silence, #17 –Find Life in a Desert, or #99 –Take a Sunrise Selfie. You can also share your park experience with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark.

"Birthdays are a time to celebrate and we want everyone to join the party," said Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds. "Death Valley National Park offers something for everyone, from the lowest elevation in N. America to two miles high, so I invite you to visit and Find Your Park."

On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to create the National Park Service. Today, there are 408 national parks throughout the country and each one tells an important part of the American story. Some commemorate notable people and achievements, others conserve magnificent landscapes and natural wonders, and all provide a place to have fun and learn. And, on August 25, all national parks will offer free entrance for everyone.

Death Valley NP was established in 1994 to preserve the outstanding natural and cultural resources. Last year, more than 1.1 million park visitors enjoyed the site and added $89 million to the local economy and supported 1,264 area jobs. For more information see www.nps.gov/deva.

The mission of the National Park Service also extends beyond park boundaries. Community partnerships help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. See www.nps.gov.

-NPS-