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Contact: Liz Davis, 410-629-6087
Berlin, MD –The National Park Service is turning 99 years old on August 25 and Assateague Island National Seashore wants to give you a present –free admission in the Maryland district! The usual entrance fee of $20.00 per vehicle will be waived for all visitors on August 25. We'll get the party started at the Assateague Island Visitor Center in the Maryland district at 11:00 am with an underwater "Aquarium Talk" adventure, then a wild horse "Creature Feature" at 12:00 pm. At 3:00 pm, the fun will move out to Old Ferry Landing where visitors are invited to explore the bay and salt marsh during the "Bay Discovery" program with a ranger. Visitors to the Virginia district of the seashore will also have plenty of activities to choose from. Join us for a 1:30 pm "Aquarium Talk" at the Toms Cove Visitor Center and get started on your junior ranger activity book. We'll have a "Junior Ranger Graduation Ceremony" at 2:30 pm. Meet us at the park entrance at 3:30 pm and learn how to catch blue crabs during "Pincers of Power." Stop by the naturalist shack in parking lot #1 at 4:30 pm to scavenge the shoreline for "Trash or Treasures." We'll finish our celebration with a "Beach Campfire" at parking lot #1 at 8:30 pm. Refuge entrance fees apply to visitors in the Virginia district.
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. Assateague Island National Seashore is a great place to try #40 –Feel the sand between your toes, #49 –Catch a Wave, #57 –See the sea or #98 –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 Assateague Island National Seashore Superintendent Debbie Darden. "Assateague Island National Seashore offers something for everyone, 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.
Assateague Island National Seashore was established in 1965 to protect the island and surrounding waters for public outdoor recreational use and enjoyment. Last year, more than 2,170,681 park visitors enjoyed the site and added $102,346,900 to the local economy and supported 1,241 area jobs.
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. To see what is happening in Maryland, go to https://www.nps.gov/asis.
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Last updated: April 4, 2020