compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 15 December 2019
Federally protected areas were initially under various authorities, including Dept. of the Interior and the War Dept. In 1906 the Antiquities Act was passed, in 1916 the National Park Service (NPS) was created, and in 1933 oversight of federal park areas was consolidated with the NPS.
| current park name | current status | state | date first protected | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Capital Parks | * | DC | 16 Jul 1790 | transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| National Mall | * | DC | 16 Jul 1790 | transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| White House | * | DC | 13 Oct 1792 | transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Hot Springs | NP | AR | 20 Apr 1832 | as Hot Springs Reservation; NP status 4 Aug 1921 |
| Chattanooga | NCem | TN | 25 Dec 1863 | returned to War Dept. 7 Dec 1944 |
| Yosemite | NP | CA | 30 Jun 1864 | as California state park; NP status 1 Oct 1890 |
| Ford's Theater | NHS | DC | 7 Apr 1866 | transferred to NPS as NHS 12 Feb 1932 |
| Yellowstone | NP | WY | 1 Mar 1872 | first NP |
| Mackinac | N/A | MI | 15 Apr 1875 | second NP; reverted to Michigan state park 2 Mar 1895 |
| Washington Monument | NMem | DC | 2 Aug 1876 | transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Little Bighorn Battlefield | NM | MT | 29 Jan 1879 | as National Cemetery of Custer's Battlefield; transferred from War Dept. to NPS 1 Jul 1940; designated Custer Battlefield NM 22 Mar 1946; renamed Little Bighorn Battlefield NM 10 Dec 1991 |
| Casa Grande Ruins | NM | AZ | 2 Mar 1889 | as Casa Grande NM, name changed to Casa Grande Ruins NM 3 Aug 1918 |
| Chickamauga and Chattanooga | NMP | GA | 19 Aug 1890 | under War Dept.; transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Antietam | NB | MD | 30 Aug 1890 | under War Dept.; transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Sequoia | NP | CA | 25 Sep 1890 | third NP |
| Rock Creek Park | * | DC | 27 Sep 1890 | transferred to NPS 1 Jan 1975 |
| Kings Canyon | NP | CA | 1 Oct 1890 | as General Grant NP, name changed to Kings Canyon NP 4 Mar 1940 |
| Grand Canyon | NP | AZ | 20 Feb 1893 | as NM under Forest Service; NP status 26 Feb 1919 |
| Shiloh | NMP | TN | 27 Dec 1894 | under War Dept.; transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Gettysburg | NMP | PA | 11 Feb 1895 | under War Dept.; transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| General Grant | NMem | NY | 27 Apr 1897 | NMem status 15 Aug 1958 |
| Vicksburg | NMP | MS | 21 Feb 1899 | under War Dept.; transferred to NPS 10 Aug 1933 |
| Mount Rainier | NP | WA | 2 Mar 1899 | sixth designated NP |
| Crater Lake | NP | OR | 22 May 1902 | seventh designated NP |
| Chickasaw | NRA | OK | 1 Jul 1902 | designated Sulphur Springs Reservation; designated Platt NP 29 Jun 1906; redesignated Chickasaw NRA 17 Mar 1976, incorporating former Platt NP and Arbuckle NRA |
| Wind Cave | NP | SD | 9 Jan 1903 | eighth designated NP |
| Sullys Hill | N/A | ND | 27 Apr 1904 | ninth designated NP; transferred to Dept. of Agriculture 3 Mar 1931 with loss of NP status |
| Mesa Verde | NP | CO | 29 Jun 1906 | eleventh designated NP |
| Devils Tower | NM | WY | 24 Sep 1906 | first NM, designated by President Theodore Roosevelt under Antiquities Act |
| Petrified Forest | NP | AZ | 8 Dec 1906 | designated as NM; NP status 9 Dec 1962 |
| El Morro | NM | NM | 8 Dec 1906 | designated as NM |
| Montezuma Castle | NM | AZ | 8 Dec 1906 | designated as NM |
Note: NB = national battlefield; NHS = national historic site; NM = national monument; NMem = national memorial; NMP = national military park; NP = national park.
© 2000-2013, 2019 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 15 December 2019.
Return to Home. Return to Other Information Resources.