Celebrating Independence in America’s National Parks - 2009 "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - ..." Thomas Jefferson – from the Declaration of Independence

Independence, Freedom, Rights – what do those words mean to you?  However you define them, they epitomize American Democracy, the Declaration of Independence, and the United States Constitution.  As Americans, we are proud of our revolutionary heritage, the patriots who fought for Independence, and the founding fathers who established this nation.  We are proud of the many Americans, celebrated and not, that played an important part in defending our freedoms throughout our history.  The events and people that established and helped maintain our Independence are valued by all Americans as links to our common heritage and our growth as a nation.  Many of those events and people are today commemorated in areas managed by the National Park Service.

The National Park Service has the honor of preserving numerous areas that commemorate the birth of the United States and American Independence.  The ideals and freedoms that were won during the American Revolution and guaranteed in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are celebrated throughout the National Park System.  Independence is celebrated everyday in some areas and on special occasions in others.  American Independence and freedom are celebrated in areas as diverse as Independence National Historical Park in Pennsylvania, Fort McHenry National Monument in Maryland, King’s Mountain National Historic Site in South Carolina, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia, Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota, the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, and Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Kansas.  National Parks preserve and commemorate sites of historical significance in the on-going growth of this nation, including the homes of several Presidents and of men and women noteworthy to the development of the nation.

With the many treasured areas that are in the National Park System, what better way is there to celebrate Independence Day this year than to visit a National Park?

Within this site, you will find information that can help visitors gain an understanding of American Independence and can provide a link to our past, present, and future.

For a more complete list of parks and additional information about them, visit our Celebrating Independence in America’s National Parks website at www.nps.gov/pub_aff/inde/celebrate.htm.

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