National Park Service Founders: Stephen T. Mather

feature image with historic phots of Stephen T. Mather, Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon as viewed from Mather Point

See For Yourself
Visit places within today's National Park System named after Mather, including Mather Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Mather District in Yosemite National Park, Mather Pass in Kings Canyon National Park.

Stephen T. Mather - First National Park Service Director

For Teachers
Choose from more than 50 educational games and learn about your National Parks. Share park stories and pictures with others around the world in Webrangers.

Inside Story
"He laid the foundation of the National Park Service. There will never come an end to the good he has done." Learn more in Stephen T. Mather's Biographical Vignette.

People
Meet Stephen Mather and the subsequent 16 National Park Service Directors who followed Mather. The National Park Service Director manages nearly 400 parks and holds a position that must be confirmed by the Senate. Today's National Park Service has over 20,000 employee dedicated to the preservation of America's best places. More people...

Image of Stephen T. Mather's home in Darien, Connecticut

Places
Visit the home of Stephen T. Mather located in Darien, Connecticut. The house is a national historic landmark and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. More places...

historic image of students in front of entrance to Storer College

Stories
The Stephen T. Mather Training Center officially dedicated in 1964 is named in honor of the first Director of the National Park Service. The center originated at Storer College, one of this nation's first institutions of higher learning established primarily for African-Americans. More stories...

Museum collection item - a historic sketch of Yosemite National Park

Collections
Stephen T. Mather recognized the power of collections that are preserved and presented in their original context when, in 1920, he called for" early establishment of adequate museums in every one of our parks." One of the world's largest museum systems has grown from these early beginnings. More collections...

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image of North Cascades National Park's wilderness

Preservation
The Stephen Mather Wilderness is at the heart of over two million acres of some of the wildest lands remaining, preserved for future generations, a place "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man..." More preservation...

Prior to the establishment of the National Park Service, the U.S. Army protected Yellowstone between 1886 and 1918. Fort Yellowstone was established at Mammoth Hot Springs for that purpose.