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• Park Boston African American National Historic Site In the early 1800s, the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston was home to one of the largest communities of free African Americans in the country. Unlike other U.S. states, Massachusetts effectively outlawed slavery in its constitution in 1783, decades before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery nationwide. Boston became a thriving center for the abolitionist movement and a critical link in the Underground Railroad. The historic site interprets 15 different structures in this storied neighborhood, including two important buildings, the Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House, which combine to make up the Museum of African American History. Other historic buildings include a school, the homes of several prominent Boston African Americans and a memorial honoring the first regiment of African American troops to serve in the Civil War.
• Park Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Rich in history, the 34 beautiful islands and peninsulas of this national recreation area feature lighthouses, military sites, hiking trails and numerous other outdoor adventures. Walk in the steps of the Union soldiers who guarded Boston from their station at Fort Warren during the Civil War. Search the horizon for ships from Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, the second-oldest working lighthouse in the nation. Observe sea creatures in sun-warmed tidal pools and cast your line for striped bass and winter flounder. All of these adventures and more are an easy ferry ride from the city.
• Park Boston National Historical Park See 350 years come to life in a city that shaped the history of America as a colony and an independent nation. Walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail to explore 16 historic sites in the heart of the city, including the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s house, the Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument — all icons of the American Revolution. In addition, visitors can see the U.S.S. Constitution, one of the first ships in the U.S. Navy, commissioned by President George Washington in 1797.
• Park Buck Island Reef National Monument This Caribbean park protects a small uninhabited island and the pristine elkhorn coral barrier reef that surrounds it, all about a mile and a half off the coast of St. Croix. Considered one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean, the monument protects a pristine underwater environment and habitat for rare and threatened species, including endangered leatherback and hawksbill turtles. Snorkelers can enjoy an interpretive underwater trail, one of only three such trails in the country.
• Park Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Sacagawea, the Indian guide, joined the Lewis and Clark expedition from her home in the Knife River Indian Villages. This historic site celebrates the culture and tradition of the Northern Plains Indians.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Recognizing San Antonio Missions National Historical Park’s significance to our shared national heritage, NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks endeavored to determine the conditions of the cultural resources protected within the park.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Virgin Islands National Park Recognizing the significance of the natural and cultural resources found within Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, NPCA’s Center for State of the Parks assessed the current conditions of these resources.
• Blog Post Congress Passes Major Bipartisan National Parks and Public Lands Package Feb 2019 | By Kristen Brengel Today’s sweeping victory represents significant expansions and enhancements to America’s national parks and public lands.
• Blog Post National Park Rangers Are Helping These 10 Animals and Plants Survive May 2017 | By Jennifer Errick National parks offer some of the last suitable habitats for a number of species and are home to creatures that exist nowhere else in the world. This means park staff play a key role in saving some of the rarest animals and plants from being lost forever.
• Press Release Parks Group’s Report Finds 96 Percent of National Parks are Plagued by Air Pollution May 2019 Polluted Parks report documents the distressing effects of air pollution on national parks
• Blog Post The Facts on Oil and Gas Drilling in National Parks Mar 2017 | By Nicholas Lund Why we need the 9B rules that safeguard our national parks
• Blog Post 11 of the Quirkiest National Park Animals Mar 2014 | By Jennifer Errick While a few types of wildlife like bears, moose, and wolves capture the imagination of throngs of tourists, there are many rare, charming, and oddly adapted species in national parks that get far less attention. Here are 11 of the quirkiest, as picked by NPCA staff.
• Press Release Unanimous Support for Creating First National Park Site for LGBT History Shared at Public Meeting in New York City May 2016 Hundreds attend public discussion on proposal to honor location of Stonewall Uprising as the first national park site dedicated to LGBT equal rights.
• Press Release Made in America: New Report Finds National Parks at a Tipping Point Leading Into Super Committee Deadline Nov 2011 National Parks Group Urges the Need for Wise Investments to Support Jobs and Communities Nationwide
• Blog Post No, National Parks Are Not America’s 'Best Idea' Feb 2016 | By Alan Spears Could the way some enthusiasts refer to national parks actually alienate the diverse supporters the parks need?
• Press Release Congressional Hearing Today RE: Government Shutdown and the Closure of National Parks Oct 2013 Witnesses to Discuss Shutdown Impacts on the National Park Service & Communities Nationwide
• Blog Post If You Want Jobs and Justice, Keep Our National Parks Open Oct 2012 | By Robert Garcia The National Park Service needs to do more to connect diverse communities with public lands — and we need to support and fund these efforts.
• Press Release National Parks Group to Honor Champions on Capitol Hill Apr 2019 National Parks Conservation Association Recognizes Bipartisan Senators and Representatives with Heritage Award
• Press Release Cesar E. Chavez and Farmworker Movement National Park Bill Introduced to Congress Jun 2022 Bill would expand existing Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, creating new park with multiple sites across California and Arizona
• Blog Post 5 Ways the New Congress Can Support National Parks Dec 2014 | By Emily Douce If you’re looking forward to the New Year and getting ready to turn over a new leaf, you aren’t alone. In our nation’s capital, the 114th Congress begins on January 6 with a renewed sense of purpose. Lawmakers will reappoint their leaders, select their committee assignments, and put forward a new slate of bills.
• Press Release President Preserves Iconic Canyon Country with Bears Ears National Monument Dec 2016 Shares Landscape with Canyonlands National Park, Other Protected Areas
• Press Release Parents, Small Business Owners, Outdoorsmen and Others with Diverse Backgrounds from Across the Nation Meet with EPA Officials, Congressional Offices to Urge Continued Enforcement of Clean Air Standards Nov 2011 Diverse group supports EPA's mission to improve air quality for families and national parks
• Press Release Congress Passes Water Resources Bill to Benefit National Park Waterways and Restoration Projects Across the Country Sep 2018 Bill will advance projects that improve the health of waterways in and around America’s national parks.
• Press Release President Biden’s Budget Sends a Clear Message: An Investment in Our National Parks is an Investment in Our Future Mar 2023 “When we invest in our national parks, our environment, economy and communities thrive." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President and CEO
• Press Release Blackwell School Poised to Become One of the First National Park Sites Dedicated to Modern Latino History May 2022 The Blackwell National Historic Site will soon shed light on an often-overlooked injustice in American history and will be an important step forward for including Latino stories at our parks.
• Press Release House Advances Landmark bill to Protect More than 2 Million Acres of National Parks and Public Lands Feb 2019 Today marks a great day in history for our national parks and public lands. 
• Blog Post 4 Ways President Obama Can Create a Lasting National Park Legacy May 2015 | By Mark Wenzler Last month, President Obama took the podium at Everglades National Park to publicly address the seriousness of climate change. That he chose the world-famous River of Grass as the setting for his Earth Day speech was no accident: Rising ocean levels and other effects of climate change threaten the very existence of this landmark park.
• Press Release Parks Group Files Brief in Support of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Nov 2018 Through our amicus brief, we urge the courts to hold the government accountable for putting our public lands, including our national parks, in harm’s way.
• Press Release Bill Expanding Public-Private Partnerships Victory for National Parks Dec 2016 Bipartisan-Supported Centennial Bill Would Help Address National Park Needs and Engage Youth
• Press Release Report: Endangered Species Act is a Win-Win for National Parks and Imperiled Species Mar 2019 Amid ongoing political attacks on the Endangered Species Act, a new report explores the mutual and far-reaching benefits of the law to threatened and endangered fish, plants and wildlife as well as national parks. 
• Press Release With Unanimous Support, Senate Passes the National Park Service Centennial Act Dec 2016 Centennial bill will help address national park needs and engage youth
• Press Release New National Poll Finds Parks Are Political and Physical Solution to Address Climate Mar 2022 "As the worsening climate crisis continues to threaten our health and our communities, this poll shows national parks unite us and offer solutions for addressing it."
• Press Release Conservation Groups Respond to Utah Lawsuit Challenging National Monuments Restoration Aug 2022 "As we’ve said time and time again, an attack on one monument is an attack on all. We will continue to fight to ensure all national monuments are protected now and for the future.” - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President and CEO 
• Press Release With House Passage, Historic Blackwell School Even Closer to National Park Status Dec 2021 The National Parks Conservation Association and Blackwell School Alliance are leading a grassroots campaign for a park that will honor the stories of Latino students and their families, centered around a former segregated school in West Texas.
• Press Release Federal Report Touts $30 Billion Direct Economic Impact of National Parks, Underscores Benefit Of Increased Funding Apr 2015 National Parks Are Proven Economic Engines; Congress Must End Sequester and Pass Pro-Park Transportation Bill
• Press Release Government Shutdown and Additional Funding Cuts Threaten National Parks, Visitors and Local Communities Nationwide Sep 2013 Federal government shutdown threatens to close national parks across the country impacting local economies as well as family vacation and school trips
• Press Release Congress Green Lights Funding Increase For National Park Roadways Dec 2015 National park roadways to receive 18 percent increase in transportation funding
• NPCA at Work Keep Massive Industrial Data Centers Away from our National Parks New development could compromise the environmental integrity of Manassas National Battlefield and Prince William Forest Park in Virginia
• NPCA at Work Working for Clean Air in our National Parks Air pollution harms national park visitors’ health, clouds scenic views and alters our climate. And the solutions needed to resolve these problems are largely the same – we must clean up polluting fossil fuel facilities, industries, and vehicles. With your voice, we can make a difference and achieve cleaner air and a healthier climate.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Current overall conditions of the known natural resources in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park rated a score of 60 out of 100. Overall conditions of the park’s known cultural resources rated 65 out of a possible 100, indicating “fair” conditions.
• Fact Sheet Park Friends of the Colorado River NPCA's Colorado River Program, launched in 2011, harnesses the iconic power of national parks, their broad public and political support, their capacity to engage and educate, as well as protect and improve the health of the land and water within which national parks reside.
• NPCA at Work Find Your Voice The Find Your Voice initiative engaged a new generation of advocates to speak up for parks through a series of special events and hands-on projects during the 2016 National Park Service centennial.
• NPCA at Work The Problem with Methane Methane is a powerful pollutant that speeds the warming of our climate. Oil and gas development is responsible for most of the methane emissions in the United States, as well as other pollution, which together creates smog that threatens public health and our national parks.
• Fact Sheet Yellowstone Bison Yellowstone National Park is home to the largest continuously wild, genetically pure bison herd in North America. When snow blankets Yellowstone each winter, bison and other wildlife begin their ancient migrations out of the park’s high country and into surrounding valleys seeking food for survival.
• Seth Kantner Seth Kantner is a commercial fisherman, wildlife photographer, and author of Shopping for Porcupine and the national bestselling novel, Ordinary Wolves. His writing and photographs have appeared in the New York Times, Outside, Alaska, Reader’s Digest, and other magazines and anthologies. He lives with his wife and daughter in northwest Alaska.
• Michael Lanza Michael Lanza is the Northwest editor of Backpacker and creator of TheBigOutside.com. This article is adapted from his new book Before They’re Gone: A Family’s Year-Long Quest to Explore America’s Most Endangered National Parks, published by Beacon Press.
• NPCA at Work Keep Crater Lake Wild A wilderness designation will preserve Crater Lake, its wildlife and its outdoor recreation opportunities forever. It's time to give this iconic park the protection it deserves.
• Andrew Yip Next Generation Advisory Council Andrew Yip is a native of the San Gabriel Valley, a region east of Los Angeles. He joined the United States Army at the age of 17 and was honorably discharged in 2015. He works at Active San Gabriel Valley as a Program Specialist, advocating for safer streets, public transit, and open space. He's also working on finishing his bachelor's degree in Sociology, Ethnic Studies, and a specialized minor in Mobility Justice at Azusa Pacific University.
• Dave Santucci Former Next Generation Advisory Council Dave Santucci is one of the founding members of NPCA's Next Generation Advisory Council, a member of NPCA's Northeast Regional Council, and a member of NPCA's former Center for Park Management Advisory Council.
• Staff Laura Atchison Senior Director of Board Relations Laura Atchison has been with NPCA since 2005 and is currently Senior Director of Board Relations.

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