Shared by many great people in our nation's history, such as Theodore Roosevelt, whose legacy is carved in stone, our national park system is a model envied by all and copied by many. Early park supporters, such as Stephen Mather, first Director of the National Park Service (NPS), and Horace Albright, a crusader to the establishment of a national park bureau, emphasized the value of parks as sources of awe-inspiring wonder for those who visit and stand before nature's treasures.

Mather and Albright were convinced that visitors must be attracted and accommodated if the parks were to flourish. To accomplish this, they concluded that automobiles should be allowed throughout the park system, hotels should be provided by private operators, and educational activities should be encouraged to share the magic and mysteries of these places. While it is imperative that the parks be preserved for future generations, Mather and Albright rightly foresaw that the land could and should be responsibly used to accommodate and serve visitors.

From its establishment, the NPS has been challenged to follow Mather's and Albright's lead: “Conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The National Park Hospitality Association's mission statement supports this vision:

“The NPHA is committed to fostering active partnerships with the public and the government for the joint purpose of (i) preserving and protecting park resources, and (ii) accommodating visitor access to and enjoyment in our National Parks.”