It has been 50 years since the National Park Service made the profound and visionary decision to place all media-related functions and personnel together under one roof. Since 1970, the Harpers Ferry Center for Media Services (HFC) has helped create a deeper meaning and connection to our nation’s treasured stories and lands. The vision, then and now, is to produce excellence.
Over the past 50 years, the media produced in collaboration with our park colleagues have been recognized by government agencies, nonprofits, professional organizations, the business community, and—most important—the visiting public. We want to thank all the dedicated professionals at HFC who have made and continue to make this happen. We all feel a great sense of pride and honor to serve national parks.
We also want to thank all the wonderful, amazing park leadership, staff, and partners. Without you, your expertise, and trust, these successes would not be possible.
As we look to the future, our products and services will continue to evolve to meet the changing world around us, but our commitment to excellence will remain.
Thank you for 50 years. We look forward to continuing to serve you again in the future.
Some Notable Achievements:
HFC - An Idea and a Suggestion Box
The idea for HFC starts from a 1964 "Here's My Idea" to the Department of the Interior. Vince Gleason, then Chief of Publications, suggested "that the National Park Service locate the creative functions of its Washington Interpretive Staff in a shop, built exclusively for that purpose, at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. An interpretive Shop at Harpers Ferry would achieve two distinct improvements over existing arrangements. One, the Interpretive Staff could meet its assignments far better in a building designed expressly for the purpose. Two, the new location would enable the Interpretive Staff to take a more direct and active part in the Stephen T. Mather and Research Center."
Online Events
An Oral Tradition
People's stories are among the most valuable resources that the National Park Service preserves and protects for future generations. Listen to some of the stories of Harpers Ferry Center staff.
Film Festival
From mid-June through September 2020, HFC will hosted a festival of NPS films. Film titles were posted every two weeks. Panel discussions with Q&A sessions accompanied selected films.
Birth of the IDC Building
Architect Ulrich Franzen designed the Interpretive Design Center (IDC) at Harpers Ferry in 1968. Join Elizabeth Milnarik, Historical Architect for the National Capital Area of the NPS, as she discusses the National Park Service's late Mission 66 period, when the aesthetic tide turned from the volumetric lightness of the International Style, toward the robust massiveness of Post Modernist Brutalism. Please note - this event will be live captioned.
Charley Harper and the National Park Service
The Center commissioned ten poster illustrations from the beloved American artist Charley Harper (1922–2007). Browse related notes and sketches and observe his working method through selected photos and video clips.
Creating the National Park Service Visual Identity
Do you recognize the National Park Service brand? Learn about the origins of our visual identity, see where it may be heading in the future, and find out about your role in this process.
The Story of Unigrid Brochures: What's in Your Collection?
The HFC Publications office has been creating, and archiving, NPS Unigrid brochures since the system launched in 1977. Hear about the origins of the Unigrid, see some of the favorites from our collection, and share your favorites with us.
Last updated: May 25, 2022