Laws & Policies

 

Firearms in National Parks

Visitors may possess firearms within a national park provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain park facilities and buildings. These places are marked with signs at public entrances. It is the role of responsible gun owners to know and obey the federal, state, and local laws applicable to the park they visit.

No Drone Zone

Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on park land is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent. Read more about unmanned aircraft in the national parks.

 

Superintendent's Compendium

The Superintendent’s Compendium is the summary of park specific rules implemented under 36 Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR). It serves as public notice, identifies areas closed for public use, provides a list of activities requiring either a special use permit or reservation, and elaborates on public use and resource protection regulations pertaining specifically to the administration of the park. The Superintendent’s Compendium does not repeat regulations found in 36 CFR and other United States Code and CFR Titles, which are enforced without further elaboration at the park level.

Copies of the Compendium are available at 222 North Street #2205, Jackson, MS 392014. Request a signed copy via email and US Postal Service here.

 

Superintendent's Compendium

Signed by Superintendent Keena Graham, June 9, 2023

36 CFR §1.5 - VISITING HOURS, PUBLIC USE LIMITS, CLOSURES, AND AREA DESIGNATIONS FOR SPECIFIC USE OR

Visiting Hours: 

Evers Home Tours are available by advance appointment only. 

Myrlie’s Garden Sunrise to sunset. 

Determination: Visiting hours are established based on the availability of staff, to ensure an enjoyable and safe visitor experience, and to assure adequate protection of park resources. After hours use, nighttime activity and overnight parking create several impacts which would be inconsistent with the protection of park resources. 

Closures: 

The park will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. 

Determination: This closure allows all park employees the opportunity to enjoy these holidays with their families and friends. 

The Superintendent may close any portion of the park to public access during prescribed fires, periods of ice, snow, or any other potentially hazardous conditions or emergencies. Roadways may be closed with gates, barricades, or other traffic control devices. Driving around or past these devices are prohibited. 
 

Public Use Limits: 

• The park is closed to camping. 

Determination: Opportunities exist outside the park for camping. There are no designated campgrounds in the park. Infrastructure does not support campgrounds. 

• The park is closed to picnicking except in Myrlie’s Garden. 

Determination: Opportunities exist outside the park for this activity. The areas listed above provide a reasonable accommodation for those touring the park without interrupting their route. Outside of this approved area, it would be inconsistent with the preservation and protection of resource values at the sacred Evers Home site. 

• Motor vehicles may only stop or park in the designated parking area at Myrlie’s Garden. Parking in the driveway of the Evers Home is prohibited. No off-road operation or parking of motor vehicles is permitted throughout the park.  

Determination: Parking or driving off designated roadways or parking facilities can create opportunities for erosion and otherwise damage park resources. The Evers Home driveway is a sacred space.  

• All park trails and grounds are closed to off-road bicycling, equestrian use, and motorized recreation. 

Determination: Soils throughout most of the park are highly erodible. The indicated uses could result in erosion that would damage natural or cultural resources. 

• Geocaching is prohibited throughout the park except that virtual and Earthcaching is allowed. 

Determination: The entire park consists of sacred ground and historically significant resources. Methods of stashing items such as digging, burying, covering and otherwise concealing items are sometimes used while geocaching, and are inappropriate within these areas. 

• Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent. 

Definition: The term "unmanned aircraft" means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the device, and the associated operational elements and components that are required for the pilot or system operator in command to operate or control the device (such as cameras, sensors, communications links). This term includes all types of devices that meet this definition (e.g., model airplanes, quadcopters, and drones) that are used for any purpose including for recreation or commerce. 

Determination: Operation of unmanned aircraft has significant potential to create unreasonable noise and other intrusions that would adversely affect the experiences of visitors and the solemnity of the park. Careless operation of unmanned aircraft could result in collisions with resources, possibly causing damage. 

The following restrictions and/or conditions are in effect for the specific uses or activities noted: 

Recreational and Sporting Activities: 

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is closed to recreational and sporting activities including, but not limited to the following: pocket motorcycles, field games, flying model airplanes or operation of other radio-controlled models, rocket launching, kite flying, throwing objects through the air (Frisbees, balls, etc.), skiing, skating, sledding and similar winter activities, and sunbathing. Prohibited activities do not include walking, hiking, jogging, or running. 

Determination: Ample opportunities exist outside the park for these activities. These types of activities are inconsistent with the preservation and protection of resource values and interfere with the peace and tranquility of the landscape and are inconsistent with the reason the park was created. 

36 CFR §1.6 - ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT

The following is a compilation of those activities for which a permit from the Superintendent is required: Information and applications to request a permit can be obtained at Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument via email to [e-mail]. 

• Specimen Collection (the taking of any plant, fish, wildlife, rocks, or minerals) 

• Audio Disturbances: Operation of a public address system in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued pursuant to §2.50 or §2.51. 

• Aircraft & Air Delivery: Delivery or retrieval of a person or object by parachute, helicopter or other airborne means. 

• Removal of a downed aircraft. 

• Noncommercial soliciting 

• Explosives: Use, possess, store, transport explosives, blasting agents 

• Conduct a sports event, pageant, regatta, public spectator attraction, entertainment, ceremony, and similar events 

• Public assemblies, meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, parades and other public expressions of views 

• Demonstrations involving 25 persons or fewer may be held without a permit within designated park area. 

• Demonstrations involving more than 25 persons require a permit. 

• Sale or distribution of printed matter that is not solely commercial advertising. 

• Livestock Use 

• Erection of New Monuments (requires approval from Director of NPS) 

• Scattering of ashes from human or pet cremation 

• Advertisements (Display, posting, or distribution). 

• Construction of buildings, facilities, roads, paths, structures, etc. 

Filming / Still Photography 

• All commercial filming and some still photography activities require a permit. In addition, such activities are subject to the provisions of 43 CFR part 5, subpart A. Failure to comply with any provision of 43 CFR part 5 is a violation of this section. Contact Chief Ranger’s Office for permit 

• A permit is required in the following situations: 

• Commercial filming of motion pictures or television involving the use of professional casts, settings or crews, other than bona fide newsreel or news television. 

• Most still photography will not require a permit. Still photography activities require a permit only if: 

• The still photography activity uses models, set or props. 

•  The still photography activity takes place in an area where or when members of the public are not allowed. 

• The agency would incur costs for providing on-site management and oversight to protect agency resources and minimize visitor use conflicts 

36 CFR §2.1 - PRESERVATION OF NATURAL, CULTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES

The collection of natural and cultural resources is prohibited. Digging, staking, and ground disturbance of any kind are prohibited.  

36 CFR §2.2 - WILDLIFE PROTECTION

The following areas are closed to the viewing of wildlife with the use of an artificial light: 

• All of Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. 

Determination: Visiting hours are established based on the availability of staff, to ensure an enjoyable and safe visitor experience, and to assure adequate protection of park resources. After hours use and nighttime activity create a number of impacts that would be inconsistent with the protection of park wildlife. The Superintendent may authorize the use of artificial light for scientific and resource purposes. 

36 CFR §2.4 - WEAPONS, TRAPS, OR NETS

Visitors may possess and carry firearms within Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain park facilities and buildings. These places are marked with signs at public entrances. The federal facilities for the Park are as follows: 

• Evers Home 

36 CFR §2.10 - CAMPING and FOOD STORAGE

The park is closed to camping.

36 CFR §2.11 – PICNICKING

Picnicking is prohibited at the Evers House site. Picnicking is allowed at Myrlie’s Garden. 

36 CFR §2.13 - FIRES

Lighting or maintaining a fire within Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is prohibited. 

Determination: Limitations on the use of fire are necessary to prevent adverse impacts to resources, as well as to prevent fire from escaping to adjoining lands and residential areas 

36 CFR §2.15 - PETS

Pets are allowed within the park, including on park trails, as long as they are physically restrained by a leash of 6 feet in length or less. Electronic shock collars do not meet the requirements for physical restraint of a pet as required by 36 CFR § 2.15. The following additional restrictions apply: 

• All animal waste must be removed no matter the location (road, paths, trail, open field, or around buildings). Visitors bringing pets to the park must carry on their person a bag or other device for the containerization and removal of excrement. 

Visitors shall immediately containerize and remove pet excrement by depositing it in a trash receptacle or by otherwise taking the excrement from the park. 

• Pets are prohibited in park buildings.  

Determination: Limitations on pets within the park are necessary to ensure a positive visitor experience for all, as well as to prevent possible resource damage that could be created by uncontrolled pets.

Service Animals  

• Service animals are not subject to the park’s pet policies and are allowed wherever visitors are allowed.  

• A service animal means any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.  

• The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.  

• NPS staff may require an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from a facility, service, program, or activity if the animal is not housebroken or is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.  

• If a service animal must be removed, the visitor is allowed to participate in the service, program, or activity without the animal. 

Determination: Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 

36 CFR §2.21 – SMOKING

Smoking is prohibited in and around all buildings within Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of any entrance or exit primarily accessed by the visiting public or any access where smoking would result in smoke traveling through doorways, windows, air ducts or other openings. Departmental Manual 2, Section 3 310, Chapter 11, Director’s Order #50D: 4 Smoking Policy. 

36 CFR §2.35 – ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES and CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

The following public use areas, portions of public use areas, and/or public facilities within the park are closed to consumption of alcoholic beverages, and/or to the possession of a bottle, can or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage that is open, or has been opened, or whose seal has been broken or the contents of which have been partially removed: 

All areas of Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. 

Determination: Because of the solemnity of the Monument, consuming alcohol goes against the mission of the park. 

36 CFR §2.38 – EXPLOSIVES

Using, possessing, storing, or transporting explosives, blasting agents or explosive materials are prohibited. Using or possessing fireworks is prohibited. 

36 CFR § 2.51 – FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITIES

A Special Use Permit may be required for certain activities such as political events, public assemblies, demonstrations, the distribution of literature, church services and other activities commonly referred to as "First Amendment" activities. 

Demonstrations are allowed within park areas designated for demonstrations when the Superintendent has issued a permit for the activity. Demonstrations involving 25 persons or fewer may be held without a permit within the designated park area noted below. Demonstrations involving more than 25 persons always require a permit from the Superintendent’s office. No demonstrations may be held around the house site because it is a sacred area. 

The following areas are designated for demonstration purposes: 

• The concrete circle in the South-West corner of Myrlie’s Garden.  

36 CFR §2.62- MEMORIALIZATION

A permit is required for the scattering of ashes from cremated remains.  

36 CFR §$5.5 FILMING, STILL PHOTOGRAPHY, AND AUDIO RECORDING

See “Permits”  

12.10 FLORAL AND COMMEMORATIVE TRIBUTES

The placing of commemorative tributes, wreaths, and floral items is subject to the following restrictions: 

• Any placement of commemorative items requires a Special Use Permit.  

• Coins and other metal objects are not permitted to be placed in the park; these objects can cause staining of the stone surfaces. 

• Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, balloon displays, breakable objects of any kind, and similar commemorative items are not permitted at any time.  

• Floral items and other types of decorations shall not be secured or attached to the house or driveway. 

 

Enabling Legislation

The president signed the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) on March 12, 2019. The Act authorized establishment of Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in the State of to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations resources associated with the pivotal roles of Medgar and Myrlie Evers in the American Civil Rights Movement.

 

Federal Laws, NPS Policies, Enabling Legislation and Assimilated Laws

Laws are created by Congress and establish the highest order of legal authority over national parks.

• Many laws, including the 1916 Organic Act that created the National Park Service, affect all areas managed by the National Park Service.
• Service-wide policy for the National Park Service is developed by the Office of Policy with public input and in accordance with applicable laws. Policies dictate many of the overall directions and procedures used by all parks. More...
• The Code of Federal Regulations 36 CFR parts 1-199 and the Park Compendium provide a complete listing of park rules and regulations. These most specific rules are developed with public input to implement applicable law.
• Firearms Regulations: As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws to legally possess firearms in this park.