We have inherited “America’s best idea,” our national parks. They guard, protect, and share millions of acres of irreplaceable landscapes, plants, and animals. They also preserve nationally significant historical and cultural places and tell the stories of people who made great sacrifices for our country.
Parks are our classrooms, playgrounds, and places of escape and peace. They let us experience solitude and quiet, natural sights and sounds undisturbed by civilization, and beauty as simple as skies so dark you can see by starlight. The National Park System is ever-changing. There are new lands, water, plants, and wildlife to protect, and as time passes, new history to commemorate. You can help us ensure that our parks are treasured forever.
Our preservation and conservation projects work to acquire the missing pieces of our national parks, the privately owned land located within and adjacent to our national parks’ boundaries. See the lands and landmarks we’ve added to our National Park System near you and across the nation in the map below.
By making a donation to the National Park Trust, you ensure that our parks and public lands are treasured forever.
Recent Projects Include:
Map of Our Park Preservation Projects
Park Preservation Highlighted Projects:
Alaska
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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK
The Park Trust supported NPS in the acquisition of more than 40 mining claims and land along creeks near McCarthy, AK.
Learn more about Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, AK -
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, AK
The first project completed by the newly formed National Park Trust in 1983 was to purchase a five-acre inholding in the interior of Gates of the Arctic National Park, at the headwaters of the Alatna River.
Learn more about Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, AK
California
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Sequoia-King Canyon National Parks, CA
The Park Trust helped NPS acquire White Chief Mine in the 1990s.
Learn more about Sequoia-King Canyon National Parks, CA -
Mojave National Preserve, CA
The Park Trust supported NPS in the acquisition of a historic school in the small settlement of Kelso, CA.
Learn more about Mojave National Preserve, CA -
Pinnacles National Park, CA
The Park Trust accepted the donation of a property, the Bear Valley School, in 2011 & donated it to Pinnacles NP in CA.
Learn more about Pinnacles National Park, CA -
Redwood National & State Parks, CA
In 1997, the Park Trust funded the admin costs for the donation of the 6.2-acre Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery in CA.
Learn more about Redwood National & State Parks, CA -
Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
In February 2020, National Park Trust assisted the National Park Service in securing property for Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.
Learn more about Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
Colorado
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White River National Forest, CO
In 2010, the Park Trust joined the Wilderness Land Trust to turn over a 10-acre mining claim, to the U.S. Forest Service.
Learn more about White River National Forest, CO -
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Removal of the house and access road through the park will allow 33 acres of land to be included into the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Area.
Learn more about Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
District of Columbia
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Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.
In 2003, the Trust purchased 0.6-acres in historic Brightwood, a neighborhood of DC, in the Fort Stevens section of RCP.
Learn more about Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.
Indiana
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Indiana Dunes National Park, IN
In 2020, the National Park Service contacted the National Park Trust seeking help to acquire 9 parcels of land of 0.65 acres, with the possibility of 12 more, 35.27 acres in a second phase. This land will be incorporated into Indiana Dunes National Park and the Marquette Greenway Trail. The Park Trust is supplying funding and acquisition expertise for the project.
Learn more about Indiana Dunes National Park, IN
Kansas
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Fort Scott National Historic Site, KS
In early 2020, NPS asked the Park Trust for assistance in acquiring a ¾-acre private property inside the park.
Learn more about Fort Scott National Historic Site, KS -
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS
National Park Trust played a singular role in the establishment of the first national park unit devoted to the natural and cultural history of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem –Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in the Flint Hills of Kansas.
Learn more about Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS
Kentucky
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Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, KY
In 2001, the Park Trust worked with Preservation of Lincoln's Kentucky Heritage, Inc. allowing them to to obtain an option to buy the 228-acre Knob Creek Farm.
Learn more about Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, KY
Maine
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Bald Mountain, ME
If you've seen the pristine waters and lush terrain at Maine’s Bald Mountain Pond, you’d understand why National Park Trust and our partners chose to acquire an adjacent 1,500-acre parcel of old-growth woodland to benefit the National Park Service’s Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Learn more about Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Bald Mountain, ME
Maryland
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD
The Park Trust is working with NPS and the State of Maryland to acquire land tied to the history of the C&O Canal.
Learn more about Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD -
Fort Washington Park within National Capital Parks East, MD
The Park Trust is helping NPS complete a 4.04-acre land donation to help preserve the Fort's natural landscape.
Learn more about Fort Washington Park within National Capital Parks East, MD
Michigan
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI
In February 2017, NPS requested help in acquiring property for for inclusion in Picture Rocks National Lakeshore.
Learn more about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI -
River Raisin National Battlefield Park, MI
NPS contacted the Park Trust seeking help to acquire land that is part of the battlefield.
Learn more about River Raisin National Battlefield Park, MI
Montana
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Glacier National Park, MT
In 2012, National Park Trust worked with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to buy the Doody homestead.
Learn more about Glacier National Park, MT
New Mexico
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Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
National Park Trust donors helped to save the geothermal wonders of Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, and the last privately held parcel in the park. It marked the end of an 11 year-long effort to protect the supervolcano’s awesome features.
Learn more about Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
New York
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Women’s Rights National Historical Park, NY
The Park Trust worked with partners to purchase properties connected to Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Seneca Falls, NY.
Learn more about Women’s Rights National Historical Park, NY -
Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Pawling, NY
The National Park Trust partnered with The Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and Oblong Land Conservancy in the $2.38 million purchase of 219 acres of wooded land which was transferred to the National Park Service on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in July 2018.
Learn more about Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Pawling, NY
North Dakota
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Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, ND
The Park Trust supported the acquisition of an 11+ acre property across the Missouri River from Fort Union Trading Post.
Learn more about Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, ND
Oklahoma
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Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, OK
National Park Trust worked with the National Park Service and the Oklahoma Historical Society on the acquisition of an important 3-acre property inside Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (OK).
Learn more about Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, OK
Texas
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Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX
At Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX), National Park Trust worked to preserve an archaeological area containing evidence of the Antelope Creek people, a Native American tribe.
Learn more about Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, TX -
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, TX
The National Park Service contacted National Park Trust seeking help to acquire a 44.58-acre parcel of land. Adding to the park will protect the cultural landscape and historic agricultural lands that provided food to support life at historic missions from the Spanish Colonial era.
Learn more about San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, TX
Utah
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Hovenweep National Monument, UT
In 1998, the Park Trust provided funds to help the Bureau of Land Management acquire 640 acres of private land.
Learn more about Hovenweep National Monument, UT -
Zion National Park, UT
In 2018, the Park Trust helped preserve 35 acres in Zion National Park.
Learn more about Zion National Park, UT
Virgin Islands
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Virgin Islands National Park, VI
In December 2002, the Park Trust bought 5.25 acres of land along the shore of Drunk Bay, St. John, Virgin Islands.
Learn more about Virgin Islands National Park, VI
Virginia
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Hogan Hollow, VA
The National Park Trust transferred ownership of 239 acres of land to the National Park Service.
Learn more about Appalachian National Scenic Trail – Hogan Hollow, VA
Washington
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Olympic National Park, WA (1990)
The Park Trust 6.22 acres on the north shore of Lake Quinault in Olympic NP and transferred it to the NPS.
Learn more about Olympic National Park, WA (1990) -
Olympic National Park, WA (2017)
In December 2017, the Park Trust completed the acquisition of a parcel of land on Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park (WA) – just under 0.5 acres. Although small in size, it is big in ecological significance. The parcel was surrounded on three sides by Olympic National Park; it was the only parcel in that block that did not belong to the National Park Service. Its acquisition will keep it in its natural state by preventing further development.
Learn more about Olympic National Park, WA (2017) -
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, WA
In 1978, Ebey’s Landing in Washington state was established as Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. Fast forward 40 years to 2018, National Park Trust worked with Historic Whidbey, National Park Foundation, National Park Service, & numerous local partners to add land and property to this NHR.
Learn more about Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, WA
Wisconsin
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St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, WI
National Park Trust added 145 acres to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The complex project involved a land exchange in which the Park Trust worked with the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to identify and then purchase valuable timberland; then that land was traded for three parcels of land owned by the State of Wisconsin in the north-central part of Wisconsin. Those three parcels were then transferred from the Park Trust to the National Park Service within days of taking ownership.
Learn more about St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, WI
