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National parks have been called "the best idea America ever had." But the idea of preserving land ran contrary to the prevailing national mood during the 19th century, which saw nature as something to be subdued and conquered.
國家公園被認為是“美國歷史上最棒的概念”。然而在19世紀，這種保護土地的想法卻有悖于當時盛行的國民情緒，那時人們視自然為被征服或制服的對象。
The first national park, Yellowstone, was reserved by Congress in 1872, and 5 other parks were added over the next 40 years. In addition to offering environmental protection, the parks also stimulated tourism and economic expansion in the West. By 1916, the Interior Department was responsible for 14 national parks and 21 national monuments.
國會于1872年建立了第一個國家公園，黃石公園。在接下來的40年里，又陸續建立了其它五個公園。國家公園除了保護自然環境外，還能刺激西部的旅游業和經濟發展。至1916年，內政部門總共負責管理14個國家公園和21個國家級博物館。
With meager funding, they had to use army personnel and civilians to tend to many parks and monuments. A wealthy and concerned Chicago businessman named Stephen T. Mather had joined the Department of Interior in 1915 and used his private funds to publicize the plight of the national parks. Congress responded, and on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved legislation that created the National Park Service.
因為微薄的資金投入，他們不得不借用軍隊人員和平民來照管公園和博物館。一位富有的芝加哥商人 Stephen T. Mather 對此很關心，他于1915年加入內政部，自費宣傳國家公園所面臨的困境。國會做出響應，且伍德魯·威爾遜總統也于1916年8月25日通過立法成立了國家公園管理局。
The many roles of the Park Service have expanded over the years, as has the number of areas under its jurisdiction. In 1980 Congress added 47 million acres of unspoiled wilderness in Alaska, more than doubling the size of the Park System. Controversy still remains about whether or not they should be used to drill for oil, and how best to allow public access to the parks without destroying their integrity.
過去幾年，隨著管轄區域數量增加，國家公園管理局所扮演的角色擴大了。1980年國會又將阿拉斯加的四百七十萬公頃未開發的荒野納入國家公園管理局管轄范圍，這比自然公園系統的兩倍還多。但關于是否應該在這片土地上鉆井開發石油、以及如何讓公眾進出公園時不損害其完整性的問題上仍存在爭議。
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