On March 1, 1872, Congress designated Yellowstone National Park as the first national park. Today, Yellowstone is still one of the most frequently visited national parks in the country.

When a place is designated as a national park, monument, or preserve, laws protect the land from being mined, commercially developed, or owned. These protected lands are set aside by the government to preserve natural, cultural, and historic resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.