The National Park Service “eagle” badge, introduced in 1906, is the first badge designed specifically for use by park rangers in national parks. At least two other badges preceded the “eagle” badge. Beginning around 1894, the “Yellowstone Park Scout” badge was issued to civilians hired by the military to protect the park. A second badge, the “Forest Reserve Ranger, U.S. Department of the Interior” badge is thought to have been issued in 1898 to rangers working in national parks and forest reserves. Both badges were worn until 1905, the year the forest reserve function transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. In 1906, following that reorganization, the Department of the Interior introduced the “eagle” badge. After the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, its first director, Stephen T. Mather, appointed in 1917, wore a gold “eagle” badge, while the assistant director, Horace M. Albright, wore one of sterling.

Two companies produced the “eagle” badge, Lamb & Tilden of Washington, DC, and C.H. Hanson of Chicago. The badge, which is two inches in diameter, was replaced in 1920 by another, smaller style. Upon receipt of the new 1920 badges, all “eagle” badges were to be surrendered; however, the demand was greater than the supply and parks were allowed to retain the old badges for use by temporary rangers. Photos show rangers wearing these badges as late as 1926.

National Park Service ranger badges continued to go through design changes for more than forty years. In 1970, the National Park Service issued a shield-shaped badge with a central medallion displaying the Department of Interior Seal. This “National Park Ranger” badge is still in use today.

Badges, uniform ornamentation, and uniforms, as well as photographs of uniformed park rangers are in the NPS History Collection at Harpers Ferry Center.