Glacier National Park Invites the Public to Celebrate Over a Century of National Park Service

Glacier National Park visitors need not fret that the Highline Trail is still closed for bear activity. Heading into National Park Week, Glacier is sure to keep visitors busy with a host of new programming. 

The festivities kicked off on Saturday and will continue throughout the week, including an entrance-fee free day on Aug. 25. As the country is encouraged to enjoy the natural beauty and history of its national parks, Glacier is hosting a variety of activities showing off everything the Northwest Montana landscape has to offer. 

Both first-time visitors and those well-versed in all things Glacier are sure to find a unique experience. Visitors can wildlife watch at Logan Pass with Glacier Institute educators, join in on a guided walk through the historic Many Glacier Hotel, or take a boat ride across St. Mary Lake on one of the century-old boats before participating in a ranger-led hike to the St. Mary Falls. For those in search of a transcontinental adventure, the International Peace Park Hike on Friday will take visitors on a journey to Canada and bring them back on a boat ride in a collaboration with Waterton National Park rangers. 

Or, for those looking for something a little slower paced, they can catch a screening of films that document the history of Glacier, including a feature on the restoration of “Little Chief,” the historic 100-year-old vessel that ferries visitors on scenic boat tours across St. Mary Lake, and the preservation of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Campgrounds and Visitor Centers will also host special evening programs on the daily. Visitors can learn about the animals that make up Glacier’s wildlife or hear members of the Blackfeet Nation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes share their histories. 

This year’s National Park week theme, “Celebrate America’s Story,” comes on the heels of the United States Semiquincentennial and overlaps with the National Park Service (NPS) turning 110 years old. To celebrate over a century of service, U.S. residents can enjoy free entrance to the parks on Tuesday, Aug. 25, the official birthday of NPS. 

“America’s national parks preserve the places where our nation’s story was written and where it continues to inspire future generations,” said Secretary of Interior Doug Burgrum in a press release. “As we celebrate the 110th birthday of the National Park Service and mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Trump administration invites everyone to visit their national parks and experience the history, beauty and spirit that makes our country exceptional.”

On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act which brought a new arm of the Department of Interior into existence to manage what was then 35 established national parks. The National Park Service’s goal, the Act established, was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

In the decades that followed, NPS has grown to oversee over 400 sites and the parks have become a staple of natural beauty in the U.S., drawing in large crowds of domestic and foreign tourists alike — Montana’s own Glacier National Park sees annual numbers exceeding 3 million visitors. 

Coming off the heels of National Park Week, the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA) is hosting a series of advocacy events. As the parks face staffing cuts and an increasing maintenance deficit, NPCA is encouraging the public to show their support during this week of appreciation. 

“Parks are unique and beloved, and during this National Park Week, we want to be rooted in place and together with communities to speak up for them,” stated David Lamfrom, Vice President of Regional Programs in a press release. “This Day of Action is an opportunity for all Americans to show that parks bridge differences and close divides. They are places that inspire us, educate us, and connect us to our history. Online and in parks across the country, people can take action for America’s legacy: our national parks.”

At Glacier National Park, those interested in participating can visit NPCA’s advocacy table on Aug. 27 between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. NPCA will offer the chance to sign cards thanking park staff and add their names to petitions in support for NPS funding.

National Park Week runs until Sunday, Aug. 30. A full list of events and details can be found at Glacier National Park’s online calendar.

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