To preserve parks in their natural state (or, at historical areas, to preserve a scene as nearly as it appeared on a certain date), and make these areas accessible for public use and enjoyment.

Since 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) has been entrusted with protecting and preserving our nation’s parks, including Yellowstone, the world’s first national park established in 1872. Spanning 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone is home to incredible wildlife, half of the world’s active geysers, and iconic geological features like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. This remarkable place also holds a rich human history, having been home and hunting grounds for Indigenous peoples for over 11,000 years.