The National Park Service will celebrate its 97th birthday on Sunday, August 25. Entrance fees will be waived at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, giving visitors a chance to enjoy a late summer day in the park free of charge.
President Woodrow Wilson signed the legislation establishing the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916. It stated that the agency “…will conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations." Today, the National Park System is comprised of 401 units and over 84 million acres of lands
“National parks are ‘America’s Best Idea’ and were established for everyone to enjoy" said Superintendent Valerie Naylor. “This is an excellent chance for visitors to help us celebrate this legacy and take advantage of a fee free day in the park."
Special guest Theodore Roosevelt will call at the South Unit Visitor Center from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. MDT to chat with visitors. Cookies and lemonade will be served throughout the day in the North and South Unit Visitor Centers by the Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Ranger-led interpretive programs will be offered in the park’s North and South Units. The park also provides opportunities for scenic driving, wildlife watching, hiking, and camping. Regular camping fees will be charged.
The other two national park units in North Dakota - Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site near Williston and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton - are among the 268 national park units that never charge entrance fees.
For more information about the park and upcoming activities, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/THRO.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
