Find Your Park! Come Celebrate the 99th Birthday of the National Park Service!

Date: August 17, 2015
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005

The National Park Service is turning 99 years old on August 25, 2015, and across the country, park visitors will get a present – free entry to any national park.

“We welcome everyone to come find their park at Olympic and help celebrate the National Park Service’s 99th birthday!” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum. “Like every one of our country’s 408 national park areas, Olympic belongs to us all, and we invite everyone to come discover what makes it so special.”

There are many ways to enjoy and connect with national park areas, and to inspire and encourage people to discover new ways of connecting, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, have created a birthday list of 99 Ways to Find Your Park.

The list of 99 Ways to Find Your Park includes a wide range of activities: from experiencing silence and taking a sunrise selfie, to earning a Junior Ranger Badge and writing poetry. Visitors are encouraged to share their park experiences with friends and family by using #FindYourPark or #EncuentraTuParque on social media.

“I encourage everyone to check  the list – ideas 12, 19 and 57 are all great options at Olympic!” Creachbaum remarked.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to create the National Park Service, which preserves and protects 408 sites throughout the country. Each one, whether it’s a national park, a historic site or a national seashore, was established by a president or Congress to protect, preserve and share its national significance for future generations. Some parks commemorate notable people and achievements; others conserve magnificent landscapes and natural wonders; and all provide a place to have fun and learn.

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 the rest of Washington, go to www.nps.gov/WA.