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Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Our National Park Service!

When Yellowstone National Park became the first national park in the United States in 1872, there was no one to oversee its maintenance. From this beginning, a steady movement grew to embrace the country’s unique natural beauties.

Today, we can witness these natural beauties from space, courtesy of Expedition 48 commander, astronaut Jeff Williams, from aboard the International Space Station. 

Death Valley National Park

This is the commander’s view of Death Valley, taken from the station in early August 2016.

Everglades National Park

Williams captured the beauty of Florida Bay in the  Everglades National Park, focusing on  the Crocodile Sanctuary, a protected wildlife area. 

Glacier Bay

Sail down the Ice Ages at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.  From Tarr Inlet Tidewater glacier to Sitakaday Narrows.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand indeed, here’s the Grand Canyon National Park seen from the International Space Station. Even from space, it took 13 pictures merged together to capture all 277 miles in this fly over.

Yosemite National Park

From visionary leaders of the movement, who worked to create and manage national parks like Teddy Roosevelt to Charles Young, the first African American park superintendent, Congress heeded the call and passed the National Park Service Organic Act, creating the National Park Service (NPS). One hundred years ago today, on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into law. 

Continue to explore the America’s natural beauty and unique features with “Exploring America’s National Parks,” a feature story from our Earth Observatory website and on Tumblr at @americasgreatoutdoors.

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