THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
On Sept. 11, 2026, Jewel Cave National Monument hosted a naturalization ceremony for 12 new citizens in partnership with the United States District Court, District of South Dakota and the Denver Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security.
Official NPS source
Wind Cave National Park will offer ranger-led elk bugling programs on select evenings in September and October in addition to daily cave tours.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations for the winter season. Starting Tuesday, September 8, the monument will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official NPS sourceNotch Trail and all areas within 100’ of the designated trail. During the closure period, Park staff will be repairing the section of the Notch trail ladder that has become a safety hazard for hikers.
Official NPS source
A bat at Jewel Cave National Monument has tested positive for rabies. Trained park personnel collected the live bat along the Historic Lantern Tour route on July 29. No human contact with this bat has been reported.
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Theodore Roosevelt impersonator Kurt Skinner will bring the country’s 26 president to life at a performance at Wind Cave National Park on August 27.
Official NPS sourceINTERIOR, S.D. — Badlands National Park has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Park by Dark Sky International. The accomplishment marks the culmination of nearly a decade of work by park staff and partners to protect the night sky and preserve the area’s nocturnal environment.
Official NPS source
Since May, Wind Cave National Park has identified three bats that tested positive for rabies.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations to prepare for visitors this summer season. The monument will be open every day starting Sunday, May 24, with extended hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Official NPS source
Beaver Creek Road, also known as Forest Service Road 391, will close May 4 while a new cattle guard is installed on the Wind Cave National Park boundary.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service today announced fireworks will again illuminate the sky above Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 3, 2026, to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. Public tickets for the event will be available through a lottery on Recreation.gov from April 8 – 12.
Official NPS source
Planning is underway to burn 2500 acres of land near Sheep Mt. Table this week. Timing for the prescribed fire will depend on preparedness levels, fuel moisture, weather forecasts, and resource availability, however the anticipated date is 9/25/2025.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service has acquired approximately 676 acres of James River Island within the 59-Mile District of the Missouri National Recreational River.
Official NPS source
Planning is underway to burn 1,094 acres of land east of the park’s headquarters this fall.
Official NPS source
The National Park Service at Mount Rushmore National Memorial plans to conduct a prescribed fire at Starling Basin, a 95-acre burn, on or after Oct. 1, 2025, weather permitting.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument plans to host a free concert The Historic Dance Club Revival on Saturday, September 20th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. outside in the monument’s Historic Area.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument is planning to host its first ever “Fly Through the Canyons” 5K trail run and walk on Saturday, September 13. The general public is invited to join this free 5K event to honor Active-Duty Military, Reserve, Veterans, and their families.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument will cease cave tours Monday, September 8 to Friday, September 12, 2025, to complete a planned back-up generator installation. The visitor center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on Thursday, September 11.
Official NPS source
Rangers at Wind Cave National Park will be leading programs throughout September and early October to listen for the bugle of the Rocky Mountain elk.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument is changing its operations for the winter season. Starting Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the monument will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service (NPS) has selected Explor Badlands, LLC to operate lodging, campground, food and beverage, and retail services at Badlands National Park under a 10-year concession contract. Existing services will transition to the new concessioner on November 1, 2025.
Official NPS sourceOfficials at Badlands National Park plan to host the 2025 Badlands Astronomy Festival, July 18 - 20, 2025, daily from 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., at the park. The annual festival brings together space science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators, and visitors for a three-day astronomy celebration.
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Teddy Roosevelt impersonator Gib Young will bring the country’s 26th president to life at a performance at Wind Cave National Park on July 5. This free program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Elk Mountain Campground amphitheater.
Official NPS source
Jewel Cave National Monument will begin its summer operations May 25 with daily tours and extended hours. Reservations are recommended for all cave tours on Recreation.gov.
Official NPS source
Beginning May 23, Mount Rushmore National Memorial will offer a variety of interpretive experiences to help visitors enjoy this iconic national park.
Official NPS sourceMount Rushmore National Memorial is excited to announce the unveiling of its newly remodeled visitor center theaters and the debut of the captivating new film, “Mount Rushmore: Carved in Stone,” starting on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Official NPS source
Cave tours through Wind Cave resumed Wednesday afternoon, May 7, after being suspended last week due to an issue with an elevator’s transformer.
Official NPS source
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Terrain360, the National Park Service’s (NPS) Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and the Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc. is proud to announce a project that aims to map a portion of the Yellowstone River. The mapping will use state-of-the art 360° ultra-high-definition spherical imagery to capture 507 miles of river starting just south of Livingston, Montana to the confluence of the Missouri-Yellowstone Rivers. This monumental endeavor will generate over 1 million ultra-high-resolution images, providing an unparalleled view of this historically significant river.
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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail has released its 2023 Annual Report. The report documents a year of work with partners across the U.S. to commemorate and protect the 4,900-mile-long historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Official NPS source
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is pleased to share its 2022 Annual Report. Highlights include a collaborative panoramic mapping project, the National Freeman Tilden Award, Lewis and Clark Trail resource documentation, web and NPS mobile app updates, and the yearly spending and projects report.
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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Specialist Caitlin Campbell has won the Freeman Tilden Award, the highest award presented to a National Park Service individual to recognize outstanding contributions to the profession of interpretation.
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A variety of National Park Service (NPS) employees, volunteers and partners were honored at a ceremony to Celebrate America’s National Parks and the Dedication of Those Who Serve.
Official NPS sourceA new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 2,187,125 visitors to national parks in West Virginia spent $108.9 million in the state in 2021. That spending resulted in 1,447 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $131 million.
Official NPS source
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail has released its 2021 Annual Report. The report documents a year of work with partners across the U.S. to commemorate and protect the 4,900-mile-long historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
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Each year, agencies and organizations engaged in public outreach submit publications, videos, digital campaigns, and exhibits for competition in NAI’s media awards. The Lewis and Clark Trail Junior Ranger Activity Journal was awarded first place NAI Media Award in the book category after receiving top marks for thoughtful messaging and innovative online components.
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Mulberry Bend Overlook will be closed temporarily while the park addresses accessibility issues at the overlook. The trail is being redesigned and reconstructed.
Official NPS source
(OMAHA, NE) July 19, 2021 — As travelers seek out more authentic ways to connect with people and places, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail unveils the ultimate online trip-planning portal, lewisandclark.travel. This website is designed to help visitors learn more about the host communities, local businesses, and attractions located along the 4,900-mile trail that runs from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Pacific Ocean.
Official NPS source
Omaha, Neb. – Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail will resume indoor visitor services at their visitor center in Omaha, Neb. starting July 1, consistent with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Interior. All services will return to pre-pandemic levels, including issuance of the park passes, access to restroom facilities, and the reopening of Riverfront Books. Some exhibits will be modified or removed to reduce risks associated with COVID-19.
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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail announces the debut of a trailwide Junior Ranger program, which is now available at more than 30 locations in 13 states across the country.
Official NPS source
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail will celebrate National Park Week April 17-25, 2021. We encourage you to participate in one of our virtual activities to help you celebrate National Park Week.
Official NPS source
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail has released its 2020 Annual Report. The report documents a year of partnerships and projects with the common goal of commemorating and protecting the 4,900 mile historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Pacific.
Official NPS source
An expedition is only as successful as its preparation. On May 12, 2019, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was extended to include eastern sites that played vital roles in the planning and supply procurement for the Corps of Discovery expedition. With a new historical trail head at the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Trail now winds 4,900 miles to St. Louis, Missouri, along the Missouri River to the Great Plains, across the Rockies and on to the Pacific Ocean. This week, we celebrate the first anniversary of this 1,200 mile extension.
Official NPS source
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail will celebrate National Park Week April 18-26, 2020. We encourage you to participate in one of our virtual activities to help you celebrate National Park Week while social distancing at home.
Official NPS sourceOmaha, Neb, – The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail visitor center is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. As of March 23, 2020 the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail visitor center in Omaha, Nebraska is closed until further notice.
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In partnership with the National Park Service, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association will work with Tribes to develop cultural heritage content and itineraries for the websites LewisAndClark.travel and NativeAmerica.travel.
Official NPS source
In the early 19th century, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an ambitious expedition across the western United States. Lewis and Clark greatly expanded our knowledge of the country’s geography and biological diversity through their specimen collection, mapping of the landscape and detailed journal entries. This year NASA and the National Park Service encourage the public to follow in these explorers’ footsteps through a new citizen science challenge from June 1 to Sept. 2. Use your smart phone and the NASA GLOBE Observer (GO) app to map land cover along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and elsewhere to assist scientists studying environmental changes.
Official NPS sourceOmaha, Neb. –No trip begins without preparation and this is especially true for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. To commemorate the importance of preparation for the expedition, 1,200 miles have just been added to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act signed on March 12, 2019 includes the trail extension, which adds an additional 1,200 miles to the national historic trail starting at the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Official NPS source
American Solar Challenge 2018 is starting from the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Omaha, NE.
Official NPS source