DEATH VALLEY –Death Valley National Park has been celebrating 100 years of the National Park Service with events all year, and will continue to do so in the coming months. From the BioBlitz to the Celestial Centennial this spring, Death Valley has been busy celebrating the Centennial of the National Park Service. Events will continue during the rest of the year, including a birthday party in August and a weekend commemorating the National Historic Preservation Act in October. From August 25-28 all National Parks will waive entrances fees, making Founder’s Day weekend the perfect time to visit Death Valley and other National Park sites!

On August 25th, Death Valley will host a birthday party for the National Park Service. A reception with cake and refreshments will take place from 1-2 pm in the Visitor Center. Everyone is welcome to attend!During that time, visitors can view Historic Photography in Death Valley, a special exhibit on display in the Furnace Creek visitor center for the rest of the year. The exhibit features the work of several photographers including:Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Frederick I. Monsen, and George A. Grant.Each of these photographers represents a different approach to photography in Death Valley from the late 19th though the mid-20th century. For example, Frederick I. Monsen was a classic frontier photographer, while Edward Weston and Ansel Adams worked closely with park rangers as depression-era photographers and produced photographs used by the Works Progress Administration. Visitors can also take advantage of the beautiful landscape in Death Valley with a scenic drive to avoid the heat, or take a hike, such as the Wildrose Peak trail, in the cool mountains.

October marks the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, a law integral to the protection of many historic structures on public lands all over the country. During the weekend of October 15th-16th events will be held celebrating Death Valley’s history, from prehistoric archaeology to Mission 66 National Park Service architecture. These events are for all visitors, and include children’s activities, ranger programs, and talks and demonstrations by experts. Check the Death Valley National Park website (www.nps.gov/deva) soon for a full schedule of events.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations.”

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