San Juan Island National Historical Park - Centennial Initiative 2016 (U.S. National Park Service)

1860s color guard celebrates peace at English Camp at the first Encampment.

NPS Photo

Throughout its more than 40-year history San Juan Island National Historical Park has celebrated the benefits of peaceful arbitration between individuals and nations. The park's bi-national 1860s color guard embodies that theme.

School children learn about prairie habitat on a field trip to the park.

NPS Photo

Local and regional students learn about prairie habitat on annual field trips to the park.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, America invites the world to discover the meaning of national parks to their lives and inspires people to both experience and become devoted to these special places.

On August 25, 2006 – the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment. Since then the National Park Service asked citizens, park partners, experts and other stakeholders what they envisioned for a second century of national parks.

A nationwide series of more than 40 listening sessions produced more than 6,000 comments that helped to shape five centennial goals. The goals and vision were presented to President Bush and to the American people on May 31st in a report called The Future of America’s National Parks.

Each national park staff took the lead from this report and created a local Centennial Strategy to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016. This is just the first year, and there are many great things to come as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years!

To keep up with the Centennial Initiative and to experience the interactive version of The Future of America’s National Parks and special features please visit the centennial website at www.nps.gov/2016.