Pipestone, MN: Superintendent Glen Livermont announced today Pipestone National Monument will celebrate Founder's Day Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, to commemorate the establishment of both the National Park Service and Pipestone National Monument.
Congress established the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916, with thirty-five national parks and monuments administered under the Department of Interior. This year the National Park Service is celebrating its 98th birthday. Pipestone National Monument was added to the system by Congress on Aug. 25, 1937 and celebrates 77 years of being a part of the National Park Service. Today, 401 units make up the National Park System.
All National Park Service sites, including Pipestone National Monument, will offer free entrance on Monday, August 25th, for the National Park Services 98th birthday. The Monument will provide complimentary cookies and coffee to visitors at the Pipestone National Monument Visitor Center between 11 am and 2 pm. The visitor center is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
To promote the Monument's Junior Ranger program there will be Junior Ranger activities ongoing all day. The Monument offers youth the opportunity to join the National Park Service Family as Junior Rangers. During their park visit, interested youth complete activities focusing on the natural and cultural resources of the Monument. They will receive an official Junior Ranger badge and Junior Ranger certificate. In addition, all youth receiving a Junior Ranger badge will be eligible to enter a raffle to win a Pipestone National Monument Annual Pass. The Pass will admit the winning youth and all family members for one full year.
For more information on Founders Day, the Friends photo contest, or Junior Rangers please call the Monument at 507-825-5464 ext. 214.
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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
