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National parks have been called "the best idea America ever had." But the idea of preserving land ran contrary to the prevailing national mood during the 19th century, which saw nature as something to be subdued and conquered.
国家公园被认为是“美国历史上最棒的概念”。然而在19世纪，这种保护土地的想法却有悖于当时盛行的国民情绪，那时人们视自然为被征服或制服的对象。
The first national park, Yellowstone, was reserved by Congress in 1872, and 5 other parks were added over the next 40 years. In addition to offering environmental protection, the parks also stimulated tourism and economic expansion in the West. By 1916, the Interior Department was responsible for 14 national parks and 21 national monuments.
国会于1872年建立了第一个国家公园，黄石公园。在接下来的40年里，又陆续建立了其它五个公园。国家公园除了保护自然环境外，还能刺激西部的旅游业和经济发展。至1916年，内政部门总共负责管理14个国家公园和21个国家级博物馆。
With meager funding, they had to use army personnel and civilians to tend to many parks and monuments. A wealthy and concerned Chicago businessman named Stephen T. Mather had joined the Department of Interior in 1915 and used his private funds to publicize the plight of the national parks. Congress responded, and on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved legislation that created the National Park Service.
因为微薄的资金投入，他们不得不借用军队人员和平民来照管公园和博物馆。一位富有的芝加哥商人 Stephen T. Mather 对此很关心，他于1915年加入内政部，自费宣传国家公园所面临的困境。国会做出响应，且伍德鲁·威尔逊总统也于1916年8月25日通过立法成立了国家公园管理局。
The many roles of the Park Service have expanded over the years, as has the number of areas under its jurisdiction. In 1980 Congress added 47 million acres of unspoiled wilderness in Alaska, more than doubling the size of the Park System. Controversy still remains about whether or not they should be used to drill for oil, and how best to allow public access to the parks without destroying their integrity.
过去几年，随着管辖区域数量增加，国家公园管理局所扮演的角色扩大了。1980年国会又将阿拉斯加的四百七十万公顷未开发的荒野纳入国家公园管理局管辖范围，这比自然公园系统的两倍还多。但关于是否应该在这片土地上钻井开发石油、以及如何让公众进出公园时不损害其完整性的问题上仍存在争议。
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