National parks are more than just gorgeous landscapes. Of the 419 units managed by the National Park Service, more than half are dedicated to telling a historic or cultural story. At the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C., two of President Abraham Lincoln’s speeches are carved into the walls, while the massive marble statue of our 16th president – one of the finest works of public art in the world – gazes down on us. It’s a truly inspiring place. Photo courtesy of Drew Geraci.

Acadia National Park in Maine has many claims to fame. It was the first national park east of the Mississippi. Generations of artists have immortalized its mountains, forests and rocky coastline. And of course, Acadia is the first place the see the sunrise in the continental United States. It’s history includes Native Americans, who have inhabited the land for 12,000 years. Today four distinct tribes - the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot - are known collectively as the Wabanaki, or “People of the Dawnland.” Photo courtesy of J.K. Putnam.

A natural wonder of South Florida, Everglades National Park is a gorgeous and intriguing place. Across the park’s 1.5 million acres, thick forests transition to wide wetlands and coastal lowlands, each distinct ecosystem dependent on water conditions and a few inches of elevation. In misty marshes and along quiet coasts, rare and interesting plants and animals thrive. The entire park feels alive - slowly breathing and constantly shifting. Photo courtesy of Andrew Slaton.

People get really excited about Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The sudden change in landscape from grassy plains to colorful, jagged rock formations comes as a pleasant shock. The wildlife – both ancient fossils and roaming freely – is fascinating. Photographer Kevin Griffith really enjoyed his visit: “This was taken last August, a little bit off Badlands Loop Road. It was an awesome experience! We had some decent sightings earlier in the day of some bighorn sheep and bison in the distance, but seeing these guys lined up on a narrow ledge just hanging out was really cool! It was just what I was hoping to find in the park.” Photo courtesy of Kevin Griffith. 

Let’s walk beside a meadow teeming with wildflowers and relish majestic alpine views at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. With the moon high in the sky, this scene feels like a dream. This week, we’re digitally celebrating National Park Week, and together we can daydream about our favorite park memories or add to the places we dream of going to. We can take great comfort in knowing places this beautiful exist. Photo courtesy of Doug Shearer (@Dougshearerphotography).

It’s National Park Week and we’re excited to share virtual visits to some of our country’s greatest treasures. Our first national park, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, was established in 1872 to protect the area’s incredible natural scenery, unique geothermal features and wonderful wildlife. Every day, bison herds move through picturesque valleys and geysers erupt in towering clouds of steam. Each visit to Yellowstone – and all our national parks – is a chance to see something new and connect yourself to the natural world and generations of human history. Photo by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.

The waterfalls and granite cliffs provide endless wonder at Yosemite National Park in California. With scenery sculpted by glaciers carving and smoothing the mountains, Yosemite’s waterfalls flow over the rock cliffs making a moonbow or “lunar rainbow” possible. In the spring and early summer, if the sky is clear and the moon is full, it can produce enough light to create a rainbow from a waterfall’s mist. Just another reason why Yosemite is a magical place. Pic courtesy of Dave Lyons.  

The North Fork Virgin River flows through Zion Canyon past Mountain of Mystery, Temple of Sinawava, Angels Landing, The Great White Throne and The Sentinel. Life follows the river, a ribbon of summer green made up of cottonwood, ash and boxelder. Taking it all in from one of Zion National Park’s many epic views, a deep connection will rise as the golden sun sinks. This scene will replay itself many times in your mind, a memory that won’t fade. Photo courtesy of Brock Slinger.

National parks are more than massive western landscapes. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is a calming escape from the nearby urban centers of Cleveland and Akron. When you walk through the woods past waterfalls and wildlife to find your perfect spot along a babbling stream, you’ll know why national parks are national treasures. Every park has a secret to share. It’s up to you to get out there discover them. Photo by Jerry Jelinek (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Too big to be ignored, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined. Rising from colorful ocean inlets to the second-tallest mountain in America – 18,008 foot-tall Mount Saint Elias – our largest national park is home to mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife and people living off the land as they have for centuries. To sum it up, this park is epic! Photo by Neal Herbert, National Park Service.