Wikipedia Draft:National reserves of the United States

A national reserve is a land designated for protecting conservation values. Within the United States, there are 421 different designated areas which cover about 85 million acres throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. There are 15 different designations reserves can be categorized under. These include national parks, monuments, preserves, historic sites, memorials, battlefields, cemeteries, recreation areas, seashores, lakeshores, rivers, parkways, trails, affiliated areas, and other designations. Reserves are either managed by the National Park Service, an agency within the United States Department of Interior, or receive federal funding.

Background
National reserves are designated lands which are protected by the government. These lands include parks, battlefields, historical sites, monuments, cemeteries, parkways, trails, rivers, seashores, and other nature preserves. In March of 1872, the first national park was founded in the territories of Montana and Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park became the first of many national reserves in the United States under the Antiquities Act of 1906. This act was signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt and gave the President of the United States power to establish national reserves to protect natural, cultural, or scientific features. At the time, these reserves were managed by the United States Department of the Interior, but no single government agency had been designated to national reserve management and administration. On August 25, 1916, the National Park Service was created through the National Park Service Organic Act, also known simply as the “Organic Act”, signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The act established the National Park Service. This new agency within the United States Department of the Interior became responsible for protecting and managing the national reserves within the country, which included national parks, monuments, and historical sites. The act had been sponsored by Representative William Kent (I) of California and Senator Reed Smoot (R) of Utah. The First NPS Director was Stephen Mather. His Job was to supervise and maintain all national reserves managed by the National Park Service. Directors of the National Park Service are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate (NPS). Later, in an Executive Order in 1933 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, sites which were previously managed by the Forest Service and the War Department were transferred to be managed by the National Park Service. Now, the National Park System of the United States has 421 different reserves which span over 85 million acres in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US Territories. To be considered a United States National Reserve, the piece of land must either receive federal funding or be managed by the National Park Service.

Naming Designations
The United States recognizes over 20 different designations of reserves. These categorizations indicate an area’s content and purpose. National parks, monuments, preserves, historic sites, historical parks, memorials, battlefields, cemeteries, recreation areas, seashores, lakeshores, rivers, parkways, trails, and affiliated areas have characteristics that determine its classification. In addition, there are sites that do not fit one of these categories and may fall under a combination of these or another altogether, like the White House. Many of these designations distinguish the types of activities allowed in the area, particularly those that impact the surrounding natural area like hunting and mining. For example, national parks specifically do not allow activities like hunting, mining, or other consumptive activities, as this designation is meant to protect the land as is. National preserves are very close in characteristic to national parks; however, certain activities are still allowed. Determined by Congress, national preserves still allow hunting, trapping, oil and gas exploration, and extraction. This distinction is important, as many national preserves would be classified as national parks if these activities were not allowed. A national historic site has one historical feature directly related to the subject of the site, whereas a historical park applies to a wider area beyond a single property or area and a monument is commemorative of a historical person or event, even if the site itself is not historically connected.

Related Areas
In addition to land designated by the National Park Service for nature conservation values, the National Park System also contributes resources to a number of affiliated and authorized areas. These areas receive federal funding or technical assistance from NPS, but the majority are owned by non-federal entities. Nonfederal entities can be categorized as state governments, local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, or a nonprofit organization that carries out a federal reward as a recipient. These areas include affiliated areas, authorized areas, National Heritage Areas, National Trails Systems, and National Wild and Scenic Rivers systems. The definition of what makes an affiliated or authorized area has changed over the years and continues to change. However, public law 91-383 specifically excludes miscellaneous areas that are not federally owned from the categorization of National Park System Unit even if they receive federal assistance. The first ever affiliated units were established in 1957. National Heritage areas preserve the cultural legacy of the United States. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System is made up of wild, scenic, or recreational rivers and the National Trails systems splits protected trails up into scenic, historic, recreation, and side and connecting subcategories. Below is a complete list of related areas by type.

Authorized Areas

 * Adams Memorial Washington
 * Coltsville National Historical Park
 * Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Washington
 * Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Auburn
 * Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site

Affiliated Areas

 * Aleutian World War II National Historic Area
 * American Memorial Park
 * Benjamin Franklin National Memorial
 * Chicago Portage National Historic Site
 * Chimney Rock National Historic Site
 * Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site


 * Father Marquette National Memorial, Michigan


 * Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic Site, Pennsylvania


 * Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, Virginia


 * Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, South Carolina
 * Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, Wisconsin
 * International Peace Garden, North Dakota and Canada
 * Inupiat Heritage Center, Alaska
 * Jamestown National Historic Site, Virginia


 * Kate Mullany National Historic Site, New York
 * Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site, New York
 * Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia
 * Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma


 * Parkers Crossroads Battlefield, Tennessee
 * Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey
 * Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial, Virginia
 * Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Maine
 * Thomas Cole National Historic Site, New York
 * Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, Rhode Island
 * Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, Washington

National Heritage Areas

 * Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, Illinois
 * America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership (Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area), Iowa
 * Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, Maryland and West Virginia
 * Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Georgia
 * Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana
 * Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, Georgia
 * Baltimore National Heritage Area, Maryland
 * Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, North Carolina
 * Cache La Poudre River National Heritage Area, Colorado
 * Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana
 * Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, New York and Vermont
 * Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, New Jersey
 * Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Pennsylvania
 * Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, New York
 * Essex National Heritage Area, Massachusetts
 * Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, Kansas and Missouri
 * Freedom's Way National Heritage Area, Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 * Great Basin National Heritage Route, Nevada and Utah
 * Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina


 * Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, Illinois
 * John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Massachusetts and Rhode Island


 * Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia


 * Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, Alaska


 * Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania


 * Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, Washington
 * Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River National Heritage Area, New York
 * Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi
 * Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, Mississippi
 * Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, Mississippi
 * Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, Utah
 * MotorCities National Heritage Area, Michigan
 * Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, Washington
 * Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Alabama
 * National Aviation National Heritage Area, Ohio
 * National Coal National Heritage Area, West Virginia
 * Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, New York
 * Northern Plains National Heritage Area, North Dakota
 * Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, New Mexico


 * Ohio and Erie National Heritage Canalway, Ohio
 * Oil Region National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania
 * Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania
 * Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, California
 * Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, Colorado
 * Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, Arizona
 * Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania
 * Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, Virginia
 * South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, South Carolina
 * South Park National Heritage Area, Colorado
 * Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial Heritage Route (Paths of Progress National Heritage Route), Pennsylvania


 * Susquehanna National Heritage Area, Pennsylvania


 * Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, Tennessee


 * The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, Connecticut and Massachusetts
 * Upper Housantonic Valley National Heritage Area, Connecticut and Massachusetts


 * Wheeling National Heritage Area, West Virginia
 * Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, Arizona

National Trails System

 * Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, Hawaii


 * Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Maine to Georgia
 * Arizona National Scenic Trail, Arizona
 * California National Historic Trail, Missouri to Oregon
 * Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, New York to Virginia
 * Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Montana to New Mexico
 * El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, Louisiana to Texas
 * El Camino de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, New Mexico to Texas
 * Florida National Scenic Trail, Florida
 * Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Wisconsin
 * Iditarod National Historic Trail, Alaska
 * Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, California
 * Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Illinois to Oregon
 * Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Illinois to Utah
 * Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, Mississippi to Tennessee


 * New England National Scenic Trail, Massachusetts to Connecticut
 * Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, Montana to Oregon
 * North Country National Scenic Trail, New York to North Dakota
 * Old Spanish National Historic Trail, California to New Mexico
 * Oregon National Historic Trail, Missouri to Oregon
 * Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, South Carolina to Virginia
 * Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Washington to California
 * Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, Montana to Washington
 * Pony Express National Historic Trail, Missouri to California
 * Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Virginia to Pennsylvania
 * Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Missouri to New Mexico
 * Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Alabama
 * Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia
 * Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Georgia to Oklahoma


 * Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Massachusetts to Virginia

National Wild & Scenic River System

 * Alagnak Wild River, Alaska


 * Alatna Wild River, Alaska
 * Aniakchak Wild River, Alaska
 * Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia
 * Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River, Colorado
 * Charley Wild River, Alaska
 * Chilikadrotna Wild River, Alaska
 * Eightmile National Wild and Scenic River, Connecticut
 * Farmington National Wild and Scenic River, Connecticut
 * Flathead River, Montana
 * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River, New Jersey
 * John Wild River, Alaska
 * Kern River, California
 * Kings River, California
 * Kobuk Wild River, Alaska


 * Lamprey Wild and Scenic River, New Hampshire


 * Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River, New Jersey to Pennsylvania
 * Lower Farmington and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Rivers, Connecticut
 * Maurice Scenic and Recreational River, New Jersey
 * Merced River, California
 * Middle Delaware River, New Jersey to Pennsylvania
 * Missisquoi and Trout National Wild and Scenic River, Vermont
 * Missouri National Recreational River, South Dakota to Nebraska
 * Mulchatna Wild River, Alaska
 * Musconetcong National Wild and Scenic River, New Jersey
 * Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Wild and Scenic Rivers, Massachusetts and New Hampshire
 * Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska
 * Noatak Wild River, Alaska
 * North Fork of the Koyukuk Wild River, Alaska
 * Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee
 * Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Texas
 * River Styx Wild and Scenic River, Oregon
 * Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Wisconsin to Minnesota
 * Salmon Wild River, Alaska


 * Snake River Headwaters Wild and Scenic River, Wyoming
 * Sudbury, Assabet and Concord National Wild and Scenic River, Massachusetts
 * Surprise Canyon Creek Wild and Scenic River, California
 * Taunton Wild and Scenic River, Massachusetts
 * Tinayguk Wild River, Alaska
 * Tlikakila Wild River, Alaska
 * Toulumne River, California
 * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, New York to Pennsylvania
 * Virgin Wild and Scenic River, Utah


 * Wekiva Wild and Scenic River, Florida


 * Westfield Wild and Scenic River, Massachusetts
 * White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River, Pennsylvania
 * Wolf River, Nebraska
 * Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic Rivers, Connecticut and Rhode Island

Recent Changes

 * Recent changes to the National Park System


 * 1) On March 12th of 2019, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act was proposed to give the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Mississippi National Park status.
 * 2) On March 26th of 2018, act P.L. 115-141 was proposed to establish Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in Missouri.
 * 3) On August 18th of 2017, act P.L.115-51 was proposed to establish a Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the District of Columbia.


 * Recent changes to affiliated areas


 * 1) In the 116th Congress, P.L. 116-9 established Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield as an affiliated area, designating the City of Parkers Crossroads and the Tennessee Historical Commission as joint management entities for the site
 * 2) In the 115th Congress, S. 62 and H.R. 362 would have established the January 8th National Memorial as an affiliated area, to commemorate the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in 2011.