An Act of Congress created the National Park Service in 1916. This act is commonly referred to as the National Park Service Organic Act, though that was not the title of the bill. Among the laws put in place, the Act outlined the broad mission of the agency:

"The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments, and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

Read more of the National Park Service Organic Act.