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part VII THE FIRST CENTURY We have completed our account of the first century's growth of the National Park System with all its branches and fruits. America's National Parks have hundreds of descendants in scores of other countries on all the continents. But that is another story important, fascinating, and very well told by others. We make no attempt to relate it here. The Family Tree graphically illustrates the gradual emergence and present status of the diversified National Park System in the United States. Here is a summary of the System as it stood on March 1, 1972.
For comparative purposes, we also present the following tabulation to illustrate the status of the different categories of areas at various intervals during the past century. Areas merged with others or abolished during this period do not show in this tabulation. National Park System Areas by Category
Closely related to the National Park System, though not a part of it, are the various categories of landmarks and registered historical and natural properties officially designated by the Secretary of the Interior for inclusion on national lists. On March 1, 1972, there were 1,013 National Historic Landmarks and 2,601 other historical properties officially entered on the National Register of Historic Places, or a total of 3,614. There were also 167 Registered Natural Landmarks, and 11 National Environmental Education Landmarks. It is also relevant to examine the number of visits to the principal categories of areas a subject on which many conservationists are meagerly informed. These are the figures for the calendar year 1970, the latest year for which statistics are available:
It is a surprise to find the number of visits to each of the three principal categories of areas roughly equal. Of course, visits to natural areas are likely to be of longer duration than visits to historical or recreational areas. However, day-use predominates throughout the System. Can any useful conclusions be drawn from this chronicle of its first hundred years as the National Park System enters its second century? We choose to leave that exercise for our readers to pursue. It is enough here to observe that the record of the System's first century invites reflection and pondering by everyone dedicated to conserving our national heritage. We conclude our presentation with the definition of the National Park System written into law in 1970 by the Congress of the United States. The General Authorities Act of that year, Public Law 91-383, signed by President Nixon on August 18, 1970, reads in part as follows:
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