Newsroom

National Public Lands Day first started in 1994 and is traditionally the single largest day for volunteer efforts, many of the events taking place on public lands like Big Thicket National Preserve. Over the past five years, Big Thicket has been...

I am consistently inspired by the amazing work our team does to advance our mission to support each of our more than 70 parks throughout the West. I am able to dedicate myself more deeply to our work because I know I am on a team of passionate and...

As WNPA commemorates the 100th anniversary of national park cooperating associations, we remember the rich history of these invaluable organizations that have played a significant role in preserving and enriching the nation’s most treasured natural...

Update: Since this post’s publication, more of our partner parks have earned the designation of International Dark Sky Park. To date, more than 40 NPS units have earned the honor of being recognized as Dark Sky Parks, including many WNPA partner...

National parks tell important stories—stories of courage, of ingenuity, of ancestry. Some stories resonate loudly, repeated throughout history. Other stories seem more deeply embedded within these cultural landscapes. As the president and chief...

Nicodemus National Historic Site and Nicodemus Historical Society will host the Smithsonian exhibit “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” from July 1 to August 14, 2023. This exhibit “traces the bold experiment of a government run by the people...

In the 1800s, the American bison, also known as the American buffalo, were hunted to near extinction. As part of a campaign to remove Native American tribes from their landscape, the US Army targeted the bison, a sacred animal to many Native tribes...

On Juneteenth We Celebrate Black Excellence with the Story of Lulu Craig, Hero of Nicodemus. Born in Missouri a mere three years after the end of the Civil War, Lulu Mae Sadler Craig would grow up to become a historian, educator, and advocate for...

A group of fourth graders are working to bring an important piece of Utah history back to Utah. The famous golden spike that completed the first transcontinental railroad was driven into the ground on May 10, 1869. The 17.6-karat gold spike joined...

(You may also be interested in this story on how WNPA supported water safety at Lake Meredith NRA.) Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, located in the Texas Panhandle, is known for being a popular destination for a variety of outdoor activities...