America’s National Parks: Inspiring a More Perfect Union
The National Park Service joins the nation in the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The aspirational vision in the Declaration defines the ideals that set the United States on a course of continued work toward a more perfect union.
Throughout the commemoration, the National Park Service will proudly serve the American people by embracing our mission to provide opportunities for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. We will inspire a more perfect union by providing opportunities for celebrating, commemorating, and contemplating the meanings of the words in the Declaration and their relevance to our lives today.
Get Involved
The National Park Service and its partners invite all Americans to share their stories, participate in commemoration programs and events, volunteer, and share their hopes and dreams for the most inclusive commemoration in our nation's history.
![A woman and two girls hold their hands open above their hands at an mountain overlook.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/740F9175-A934-ABB1-4D0BBEFB8A825F8D.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The National Park Service and America250 invite you to share your story, history, and hopes and dreams for our country.
![A woman in a flat-brimmed tan hat and gray uniform shirt holds an item for four young children to lo](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/7445C592-DB7F-BA75-6503DDEFC17298AD.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country to share their perspectives on what America means to them.
![Jump Into Civic Season](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/497508AC-0CFF-0220-4659CEAF50915950.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The National Park Service and Made By Us, invite you to join Civic Season, a way to kickstart Generation Z participation in civics.
![A drawing of an American Revolution solider with the words "I need you to help tell my story."](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/74BD4191-A175-F491-75B9CA443AD8341F.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Help uncover new stories from the American Revolution by transcribing pension records of America’s first veterans and their widows.
![A teacher and six students next to a butterfly sculpture with a yellow school bus in the background.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/74FF7010-E2C8-23FB-32477ADC678FCAA3.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Explore educator resources for helping students evaluate the values of the Declaration through a diverse set of historical places.
Telling All Americans' Stories
The National Park Service provides opportunities to discuss and learn from our triumphs and struggles as Americans on our path to realize the more perfect union envisioned in our Constitution. In striving to tell stories of all Americans, the National Park Service is expanding its efforts to fully reflect the diversity of the American population.
![7 women and girls in skirts hold baskets in front of a stage at an event.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/AA1D87E7-B155-DD74-C97F02FD5D58DD87.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Discover American stories in all their diversity, from ancient homelands of Native peoples to the homes of Presidents.
![A statue in a fountain in front of a white courthouse backed by a large silver arch.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/AA322D4D-AE75-F575-7E66FEA420A84850.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Explore the ways people, social movements, institutions, and communities have shaped American life throughout our history.
![A canon on a grassy overlook with a leafy tree and setting sun.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/AA60FC24-BF4E-AEFA-5EF004BDEC17FA2B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Discover well-known and surprising stories of places and people that contributed to the birth of a new nation.
![A person plays guitar in front of an audience next to two small canvas tents.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/75E7D982-B082-3B36-072B2F2D8D7D407A.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Researching and sharing stories of the many groups and communities who have contributed to the development of a more perfect union.
![6 people pose for a photo in front of a colorful wall.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/ACFD2E6D-C3BB-D691-4C3468748099E011.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Exploring the meaning of freedom during the Revolutionary Era through research of lived experience of enslaved individuals.
![A stone stairway leading to a gate lined by green vines and bushes.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/E121914E-E300-CEB7-931E7EDFE506239C.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Researching and sharing stories of people who are not as often recognized as having shaped our history.
Unlocking the Power of Place
The National Park Service is making crucial investments in our nation's most meaningful landscapes. Great American Outdoors Act funds are supporting projects to update Revolutionary era battlefields and other sites related to the commemoration while Inflation Reduction Act funds are supporting preparations for increased use of key sites.
![A tall, stone monument with scaffolding at its base.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/77156FB3-0EFC-399F-73A83B29174817B9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Preparing Bunker Hill Monument for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 2025.
![Four people, including two rangers in uniform, look at plans on a road next to a grassy battlefield.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/AC0871EB-A308-2F5C-27E4DD856545EFF0.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Revitalizing the visitor experience on the Saratoga Battlefield.
![9 people in front of a historic wood barn.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/779A7AF1-E39E-4D34-85AEF85D8F12B7C3.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Restoring historic structures, monuments, and trails at Minute Man National Historical Park.
![A stone building with large picture windows and columns at the entrance.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/77EA3FF9-9AC0-54E5-A9C4CECC8C055B9E.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Restoring a landmark building in Independence National Historical Park for public use.
Community Preservation Grants
The National Park Service offers assistance to communities for the preservation of America's historic places and diverse history. This is guided by the National Historic Preservation Act, which declares that "the spirit and direction of the nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage.” The National Park Service has distributed $30 million in grants through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program for projects in more than 14 states at sites such as Yorktown Battlefield and New Jersey’s Old Barracks military structure.
![2 adults and 2 children read a sign in front of cave.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/A8FDFD00-E7AB-DAD0-5F06883F7712EBA4.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Funding to restore and preserve resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation.
![A group of about two dozen people outside an historic white building for its grand opening.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/npscelebrates/crop16_9/A9278C79-EC06-7187-9455B9F6DF703880.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Grants for governments and organizations to manage landscapes, traditional cultural practices, and archeological sites.
Last updated: May 29, 2024