National Park Timeline
The history of our National Park system and other federal lands began in 1790 when the District of Columbia was formed. This included what now is part of our park system; the White House, the National Mall, and the National Capital Parks. But it was not until Yellowstone was installed as a National Park on March 1, 1872 that you could truly say that the National Park System was founded. And it was a great founding. The National Park Timeline here will be organized by current park unit, in alphabetical order, and include the dates of formation, and any other changes that may have occurred.
HHagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Idaho November 18, 1988
Haleakala National Park Hawaii September 13, 1960 - Detached from Hawaii NP, 1960.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial New York April 27, 1962
Hampton National Historic Site Maryland June 22, 1948
Harper's Ferry National Historic Park West Virginia and Maryland June 30, 1944 - Authorized as Harpers Ferry National Monument, 1944. Redesignated Harper's Ferry NHP, 1963.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site Missouri May 23, 1983 - Designated in 1982
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii August 1, 1916 - Authorized as Hawaii National Park, 1916. Split into Haleakala NP and Hawaii NP in 1960. Redesignated Hawaii Volcanoes NP, 1961.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Iowa August 12, 1965
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site New York January 15, 1944
Hohokam Pima National Monument Arizona October 21, 1972
Homestead National Monument of America Nebraska March 19, 1936
Hopewell Culture National Historic Park Ohio March 2, 1923 - Authorized as Mound City Group National Monument, 1923. Incorporated in Hopewell Culture NHP, May 27, 1992.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Pennsylvania August 3, 1938 - Authorized as Hopewell Village National Historic Site, 1938. Redesignated Hopewell Furnace NHS, 1985.
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Alabama July 25, 1956
Hot Springs National Park Arkansas April 20, 1832 - Originally founded as Hot Springs Reservations April 20, 1832. Redesignated Hote Springs National Park, March 4, 1921.
Hovenweep National Monument Colorado and Utah March 2, 1923
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site Arizona Augsut 28, 1965
IIndependence National Historic Park Pennsylvania June 28, 1948 - Incorporated Independence Hall NHS, designated 1943. Philadelphia Custom House National Historic Site authorized May 26, 1939, and incorporated in Independence NHP, 1959.
Indiana Dunes National Lake Indiana November 5, 1966
Isle Royale National Park Michigan March 3, 1931
JJames A. Garfield National Historic Site Ohio December 28, 1980
Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve Louisiana March 4, 1907 - Chalmette Monument and Grounds authorized 1907. Redesignated as Chalmette National Historic Park 1939. Incorporated in Jean Lafitee NHP and Preserve, November 10, 1978.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Missouri December 20, 1935 - Gateway Arch authorized in 1954 and dedicated, 1968.
Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota February 7, 1908
Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Georgia December 23, 1987
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway Wyoming August 25, 1972
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Oregon October 26, 1974
John F. Kennedy National Historic Site Massachusetts May 26, 1967
John Muir National Historic Site California August 31, 1964
Johnstown Flood National Memorial Pennsylvania August 31, 1964
Joshua Tree National Park California August 16, 1936 - Authorized as Joshua Tree National Monument, 1936. Incorporated in Joshua Tree National Park, October 31, 1994.
KKalaupapa National Historic Park Hawaii December 22, 1980
Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park Hawaii November 10, 1978
Katmai National Park and Preserve Alaska September 24, 1918 - Authorized as Katmai National Monument, 1918. Additional lands added December 1, 1978. Incorporated in Katmai NP and Preserve, 1980.
Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska December 1, 1978 - Authorized as Kenai Fjords National Monument, 1978. Redesignated Kenair Fjords NP, 1980.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Georgia February 18, 1917 - Authorized as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Site, 1917. Redesignated Kennesaw Mountain NBP, 1935.
Keweenaw National Historic Park Michigan October 27, 1992
Kings Canyon National Park California October 1, 1890 - Authorized as General Grant National Park, 1890. Named changed to Kings Canyon National Park, March 4, 1940.
Kings Mountain National Military Park South Carolina March 4, 1931
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Alaska Alaska June 30, 1976
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Seattle Washington June 30, 1976
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site North Dakota October 26, 1974
Kobuk Valley National Park Alaska December 1, 1978 - Authorized as Kobuk Valley National Monument, 1978. Redesignated Kobuk Valley NP, 1980.
Korean War Veterans Memorial District of Columbia October 28, 1986 - Dedicated in 1995
LLake Chelan National Recreation Area Washington October 2, 1968
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Alaska December 1, 1978 - Authorized as Lake Clark National Monument, 1978. Redesignated Lake Clark NP and Preserve, 1980.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Nevada and Arizona November 14, 1936 - Authorized as Boulder Dam Recreation Area, 1936. Redesignated Lake Mead NRA, 1947.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area Texas March 15, 1965 - Authorized as Sanford National Recreation Area, 1965. Redesignated Lake Meredith Recreation Area, 1972; Lake Meredith NRFA, 1990.
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Washington December 18, 1946 - Authorized as Coulee Dam National Recreation Area, 1946. Redesignated Lake Roosevelt NRA, 1997.
Lassen Volcanic National Park California May 6, 1907 - Authorized as Cinder Cone National Monument and Lassen Peak National Monument, 1907. Incorporated in Lassen Vocanic NP, August 9, 1916.
Lava Beds National Monument California November 21, 1925
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Oregon May 29, 1958 - Authorized Fort Clatsop National Memorial, 1958. Incorporated Fort Clatsop National Monument, as well as eleven other historic sites, into Lewis and Clark NHP, October 30, 2004
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Indiana February 19, 1962
Lincoln Home National Historic Site Illinois August 18, 1971
Lincoln Memorial District of Columbia February 9, 1909 - Dedicated 1922
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Montana December 7, 1886 - Created as National Cemetery of Custer's Battlefield Reservation in 1886. Redesignated Custer Battlefield National Monument in 1846. Name changed to current in 1991.
Little River Canyon National Preserve Alabama October 21, 1992
Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Arkansas November 6, 1998
Longfellow National Historic Site Masssachusetts October 9, 1972
Lowell National Historic Park Massachusetts June 5, 1978
Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac District of Columbia December 28, 1973
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park Texas December 2, 1969 - Authorized Lyndon B. Johnson NHS, 1969. Redesignated NHP, 1980.
MMaggie L. Walker National Historic Site Virginia November 10, 1978
Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky May 25, 1926
Manassas National Battlefield Park Virginia November 14, 1936 - Authorized as Bull Run Recreational Demonstration Area, 1936. Redesignated Manassas National Battlefield Park, 1940.
Manzanar National Historic Site California March 3, 1992
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park Vermont August 26, 1992 - Name changed from Marsh-Billings NHP in 1998
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Georgia October 10, 1980
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site New York October 26, 1974
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS District of Columbia December 11, 1991 - Designated 1982
Mesa Verde National Park Colorado June 29, 1906
Middle Delaware National Scenic River Pennsylvania and New Jersey November 10, 1978
Minidoka Internment National Monument January 17, 2001
Minute Man National Historic Park Massachusetts April 14, 1959 - Authorized as Minute Man National Historic Site. Redesignated Minute Man NHP, Setpember 21, 1959.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site South Dakota November 29, 1999
Mississippi National River and National Recreation Area Minnesota November 18, 1988
Missouri National Recreation River Nebraska and South Dakota November 10, 1978
Mohave National Preserve California October 31, 1994
Monocacy National Battlefield Maryland June 21, 1934 - Authorized as Monocacy National Military Park, 1934. Redesignated National Battlefield, October 21, 1976.
Montezuma Castle National Monument Arizona December 8, 1906
Moores Creek National Battlefield North Carolina June 2, 1926 - Authorized Moores Creek National Military Park, 1926. Redesignated National Battlefield, 1980.
Morristown National Historic Park New Jersey March 2, 1933
Mount Rainier National Park Washington March 2, 1899
Mount Rushmore National Memorial South Dakota March 23, 1925 - Acquired July 1, 1939.
Muir Woods National Monument California Juanuary 9, 1908
History Photo Bomb
Mackinac National Park, Michigan, was established on March 3, 1875 and abolished in 1895. Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument, Montana, established May 11, 1908 and abolished in 1937. Holy Cross National Monument, Colorado, established May 11, 1929, and abolished 1950. Millerton Lake Recreation Area, California, established May 22, 1945, and abolished 1957. Lake Texoma Recreation Area, Oklahoma and Texas, established April 18, 1946, and transferred to Corps of Engineers, 1949. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, District of Columbia acquired June 16, 1972. Transferred to the Kennedy Center Trustees, 1994. Mar-A-Lago National Historic Site, Florida, designated 1969, established October 21, 1972, and abolished in 1980. Some additional changes post 2003 have not yet been added to the list.