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Contact: Todd Bolton, 304-535-6026 Contact: Autumn Cook, 304-535-2908
Find Your Park and Celebrate the 99th Birthday of the National Park Service Harpers Ferry, WV– The National Park Service is turning 99 years old on August 25 and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park wants to give you a present – free admission! The usual entrance fee will be waived for all visitors on August 25. Come to the park and hike to vistas, attend the 2pm ranger program, visit our centennial outreach table, explore museums, and much more! 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. Harpers Ferry is a great place to try #10 – Find inspiration in the story of a Civil Rights leader, #16 – Celebrate innovation, #19 – Stand on a mountaintop, #25 – Walk a historic main street, #61 – Discover history around you, #92 – Wander an American battlefield, and so many more! You can also share your park experience with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark. “We look forward to the 99th birthday as a major kickoff for our centennial commemoration,” said park Superintendent, Rebecca Harriett. “Harpers Ferry offers something for everyone, so I invite you to visit and Find Your Park.” Harpers Ferry National Historical Park’s cooperating association partner, the Harpers Ferry Historical Association, is also excited about this National Park Service anniversary. “As a national park partner, we would like to celebrate the NPS Centennial by recruiting 100 new members over the next year,” said membership coordinator, Cathy Baldau. 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. And, on August 25, all national parks will offer free entrance for everyone. Harpers Ferry National Monument was established in 1944 and became a national historical park in 1963. Last year, more than 261,000park visitors enjoyed the site, adding to the local economy and supporting 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 West Virginia, go to www.nps.gov/WV Learn more about Harpers Ferry National Historical Park at www.nps.gov/hafe and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarpersFerryNPS, Instagram at www.instagram.com/HarpersFerryNPS, Twitter at www.twitter.com/HarpersFerryNPS, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/HarpersFerryNPS. Learn more about the Harpers Ferry Historical Association at www.harpersferryhistory.org and more about membership at www.harpersferryhistory.org/association-membership
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Last updated: August 21, 2015