U.S. Dept. of the Interior, "NPGallery Search," NPS.
"America's Best Idea"
U.S. Dept. of the Interior, "NPGallery Search," NPS.
As the twentieth century began, the destruction and commercialization of natural lands sparked a rise in conservation across the United States. Many people thought the American Government was responsible for preserving these landmarks so that future generations could express their right to appreciate them. Their fight to pass conservationist legislation culminated in the Organic Act of 1916, which established the National Park Service and forever changed environmentalism worldwide.