National Parks - Preserving Resources for the People

The idea of national parks was unheard of when John Conness, the junior senator from California in May of 1864 proposed a bill to preserve what was eventually to become Yosemite National Park and to place it under the protection of the state of California. His purpose was to ensure that the natural wonders of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Sequoia Trees were available and accessible to everyone and not just the privileged. Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law less than two months later.

The first National Park in the world was created in 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law, a bill that created Yellowstone. Unfortunately the law did nothing to protect the land. The 2 million acre tract was given over to the control of the Yellowstone Park Improvement Company which was given a monopoly within the park. Over a five year period the company was allowed to exploit the area for timber, hunting, and its major attractions for profit. Concerned public leaders including magazine editor George Bird Grinnell, and General Phillip Sheridan led the battle to protect the park and its resources. Eventually, a military cavalry unit was dispatched to supervise the area. National Parks remained under the protection of the military for the next 30 years.

President Benjamin Harrison signed into law the bill that turned the Yosemite preserve into the 2nd National Park along with 2 other sites set aside to protect the great Sequoia Trees, Sequoia and General Grant National Parks. As the United States grew and the land rush continued, much of the natural wilderness was overrun and destroyed. A few people recognized the need to continue to preserve the wilderness and wildlife from progress, including the young Theodore Roosevelt. During his presidency, five new national parks, 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, 18 national monuments, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests were created.

The Military continued to protect the National Parks but more help was needed. To protect the Yosemite, naturist John Muir formed the Sierra Club, an organization which is still active today. George Bird Grinnell used his magazine, Forrest and Stream to encourage the public to support protection of wildlife and started the Audubon Society to help prevent the killing of wild birds. In 1916 a bill was passed and signed by President Howard Taft that created the National Park Service.

The responsibility of the National Park Service is to balance the protection and preservation with accessibility and use by the public. It works in conjunction with several other organizations to provide both the protection and utilization of park lands.

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