Press Kit

A park ranger is interviewed by media inside Fort Pickens.

NPS/Courtesy of RV There Yet

This page is dedicated to the media. Whether you're a professional or freelance, writer, photographer, broadcaster, videographer, or blogger please read this information prior to entering the seashore.

While the park is public land and anyone is allowed to enter at their own expense, we hope you will respect the visitor experience and habitats.

• Stay 10 feet away from wildlife.
• Coordinate with the park Public Information Officer (PIO) below in advance prior to interviewing visitors or park staff.
• Do not enter the park when it is closed, this is for your safety.

 

Instructions for Media

All requests for in-person interviews with staff, commercial filming permits, or digital media must be submitted at least 7 business days prior to the date of filming or deadline. 

 

Photos and Videos

The content and the images - so unless clearly indicated, are in the public domain (these are not copyrightable), and the content fact checked by park staff. Please feel free to use any photos or videos available on this website. We ask that you attribute the source of content or imagery as provided courtesy of - "National Park Service" or "Gulf Islands National Seashore."

Photos & Multimedia (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Photos & Multimedia - Gulf Islands National Seashore 

Commercial Filming and Still Photography

Effective October 28, 2022, the National Park Service rescinded interim guidance that was in place during litigation regarding commercial filming and has returned to longstanding laws and regulations governing commercial filming in parks. Questions and answers about filming and photography are provided below.

For more information visit Filming & Still Photography Permits (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Contact the Public Information Office

Public Information Officer
850-934-2612
[e-mail]
 

National Park Service Newsroom

The National Park Service maintains a newsroom with background images on this park and broader issues of managing national parks. Click here to be forwarded to that site.

 

Darrell Echols, Superintendent

NPS/Wade

Meet the Park Superintendent

I would like to welcome you to Gulf Islands National Seashore.
As the nation’s largest seashore, we have something for everyone- forts with cannons, white beaches, wildlife habitats, trails, and rich history. My favorite activity is camping under the stars with my family.

With all there is to see and do on land, visitors are often surprised to find that a majority of the park - over 80 percent - consists of water extending a mile into the Gulf of Mexico and into the Santa Rosa and Mississippi sounds.

With such a big area to support, we rely on our partners. Passenger ferries like the Pensacola Bay City Ferry in Florida, and Ship Island Excursions in Mississippi, provide visitors with transportation.

Our cooperating association, Eastern National, ensures you have souvenirs readily available at America’s National Parks store at Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Thank you for helping to communicate our past, present, and future, and enjoy your visit - Darrell Echols, Gulf Islands National Seashore Superintendent

 

 

The fiscal year 2022 Gulf Islands National Seashore Economic Report Infographic.

NPS/Wade

Learn More About Your Park

About Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore officially became a park on January 8, 1971. The seashore encompasses 160 miles of water and land in Florida and Mississippi along the Gulf of Mexico. Visit today to experience the natural and cultural features associated with the largest seashore in the nation. Learn more about the park at www.nps.gov/guis, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 428 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Budget

The National Park Service budget is developed each February for the next fiscal year, which starts October 1. The budget defines the service goals and objectives and the funding necessary to accomplish them. The NPS budget is rolled up into the budget for the Department of the Interior and then with the rest of the Executive Branch and submitted to Congress for its review and approval.

Visitation Statistics

Visitation to Gulf Islands National Seashore has changed over the years. The National Park Service records monthly visitor use statistics and publishes them online. View the interactive NPS Visitor Use Statistics page to explore numbers and information from 1939 to the present.