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.
America's Invitation
The National Park Service and America250 invite you to share your story, history, and hopes and dreams for our country.
America's Field Trip
America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country to share their perspectives on what America means to them.
America Gives
Volunteers can earn an annual pass by completing 250 service hours with participating federal agencies.
Jump Into Civic Season
The National Park Service and Made By Us, invite you to join Civic Season, a way to kickstart Generation Z participation in civics.
Volunteer as a Citizen Archivist
Help uncover new stories from the American Revolution by transcribing pension records of America’s first veterans and their widows.
Teach with Historic Places
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.
Who We Are
Discover American stories in all their diversity, from ancient homelands of Native peoples to the homes of Presidents.
Americans & Government
Explore the ways people, social movements, institutions, and communities have shaped American life throughout our history.
American Revolution
Discover well-known and surprising stories of places and people that contributed to the birth of a new nation.
Mellon Humanities Fellowship Program
Researching and sharing stories of the many groups and communities who have contributed to the development of a more perfect union.
Claiming Freedom
Exploring the meaning of freedom during the Revolutionary Era through research of lived experience of enslaved individuals.
Inclusive Storytelling Program
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.
Bunker Hill Monument Preservation
Preparing Bunker Hill Monument for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 2025.
Saratoga Battlefield Road Revitalization
Revitalizing the visitor experience on the Saratoga Battlefield.
Improvements at Minute Man
Restoring historic structures, monuments, and trails at Minute Man National Historical Park.
First Bank Rehabilitation
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.
Semiquincentennial Grants
Funding to restore and preserve resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation.
Historic Preservation Grants
Grants for governments and organizations to manage landscapes, traditional cultural practices, and archeological sites.
Last updated: September 17, 2024