The National Park Service is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior and is led by a Director nominated by the US President and confirmed by the US Senate. The Director is supported by senior executives who manage national programs, policy, and budget in the Washington, DC, headquarters and seven regional directors responsible for national park management and program implementation.
In This Section
- Contact Us
- Find contact information for our parks and offices.
- Organizational Structure
- Learn how our agency is structured.
- National Park Service Director
- Learn about the role of our agency’s leader.
- National Park System
- See all units and related areas in the National Park System.
- Customer Service Standards
- Know the standards our agency strives for in our work.
- History of the National Park Service
- Discover the history of the National Park Service.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Our mission is based on the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916. Explore general legislation and other laws relating to the National Park Service.
Our Employees
We have anywhere between 15,000 to 20,000 employees depending on the year and time of year. Our team is strengthened by the invaluable work of interns, fellows, partners, and thousands of volunteers every year. We all share a common trait: a passion for caring for the nation's special places and sharing their stories.
Our Official Symbol
About the Arrowhead
The National Park Service Arrowhead is one of the most recognizable symbols and main ways people identify the National Park Service; along with our park ranger uniforms, national park signs, and publications. Its projectile point shape, bison, sequoia, lake, and mountains symbolize the natural and cultural resources that the agency stewards as part of our mission.
The Arrowhead was formally authorized on July 20, 1951, and became the official symbol of the National Park Service in March 1962. Learn more about the history of the Arrowhead.
Protected Trademark and Legal Notice
The Arrowhead became a protected trademark in 1962 (U.S. Reg. No. 4706627). The National Park Service allows limited external use of the Arrowhead with prior authorization and when doing so contributes to our work. Learn how to request permission to use the arrowhead.
The Arrowhead is protected under federal regulations and trademark law (36 CFR Part 11, et seq.). Additionally, the National Park Service asserts intellectual property rights in its full, official park, program, and unit names. Any use of the NPS Arrowhead without written authorization from the U.S. Department of the Interior is subject to the penalty provisions of 18 U.S.C. 701. The unauthorized use of an official federal insignia is a crime, pursuant to the aforementioned 18 U.S.C. 701, 18 U.S. Code § 701 - Official badges, identification cards, other insignia | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute.
Last updated: July 20, 2026