The National Park Service celebrates 100 years

The National Parks have been called "America's best idea" but, on their hundredth anniversary, they're faced with troubling questions. Will Congress make up a $12 billion deficit for maintenance and repair? Are the parks serving just a fraction of a young and diverse population?

Mt. Rainier

Photo by Samuel Kerr

The National Parks' official 100tth anniversary was yesterday, and the Park Service will be celebrating all through this coming weekend. Admission will be free to 400 sites on 85 million acres in the 50 states and territories. That includes 58 full-scale National Parks as well as monuments and other protected areas. But who are the visitors likely to be — now and in the future? And what will they find?