This document shows the timeline of all units that currently make up the national park system, beginning from 1790 when the first legislation was passed to create what eventually became the National Mall and portions of Washington, DC, that are now under the control of the NPS. Each entry has a citation for the law or proclamation associated with the unit’s creation, as well as any changes or redesignation that affected the unit subsequent to its creation.

SOURCES: U.S. Public Laws; Presidential Proclamations. NPS Historical Documents

CURRENT VERSION: 3.14 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: Added SPRA, FRPE, CIBS; updated a couple of designation changes. Updated status of Albert Pike MEM.

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ARCHIVED VERSIONS

3.13 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: Added TILL, updated citations for sites added in late 2022, added update to PULL.

3.12 [PDF]

Changes since Previous Version: Added Deschler-Morris House (part of INDE). Minor updates/grammatical corrections

3.11 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: Minor spelling/syntax updates. Added citations for recent units establishments. Added Palo Alto Battlefield NHS, which was inadvertently left off previous versions.

3.10 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: Added organizational changes related to regional offices since 1937. A couple of spelling corrections, and a small number of updates.

3.00 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: New production format; added numerous additional entries/updates

2.00 [PDF]

Changes since previous version: Added multiple additional listings, changed version numbering for consistency

2200-001-000 [PDF]