US National Parks Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1872

President Ulysses S, Grant signed the proclamation on March 1, 1872. Although mostly in north-west Wyoming, Montana and Idaho also are parts. Yellowstone comprises 3,468.4 square miles comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake in North America.

The park is noted also for its geothermal features such as the Old Faithful Geyser, a spot most visited in the park.

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Wilson sighed the bill. World War One was pending, and many of the national parks were administered by the army. This released military personnel for their more traditional role. As an aside the Army Corps of Engineers still manages major engineering projects of national interest.

Answer: Department of the Interior

The United States Department of the Interior is the federal executive department responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources. It was a natural fit for the National Park Service.

Answer: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is in Alaska and covers 13,005 square miles. It was designated as a national park in 1980. Seven of the ten largest in area national parks are located in Alaska.

Answer: David Berger National Memorial

Located near Cleveland, Ohio, the David Berger Park consists of one sculpture dedicated to the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. It was built by private contributions. It was designated a national memorial in 1980 and covers a mere .02 acres.

Answer: Colorado

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is located in south central Colorado east of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. The dunes were formed from sand and soil deposits from prehistoric glaciers, lakes, and wind erosion. The topography changes constantly with winds moving the sand. Reportedly, some dunes raise over 700 feet.

The park includes about 84,997 acres about equally divided between the dunes and the nature preserve. Mule deer often greet visitors.

Answer: Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States with a depth of about 2000 feet. The lake is residue of an extinct volcano. We visited Crater Lake in late April and were surprised to see several warning signs alerting us that no vehicles were allowed to proceed without tire chains that our rental car did not have. Reaching the southern hospitality house, we found it packed with snow. Pictures do not fully capture the beauty and majesty of Crater Lake, looking down on it from a cliff to its naturally clear blue waters.

There a nature trails and boat rides on the lake from the north end.

Answer: Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is on many of the 'bucket lists' for vacationers. This gorgeous site offers a number of options exist such as plane or helicopter rides, floating on the Colorado River, mule trails, a glass platform over the canyon, hotels and resorts, or simply driving the rim. We came away a little disappointed at the rising level of commercialism in the area. UNESCO World Heritage Site was designated in 1978.

Answer: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a New York State Park. The others are national parks. Although the American side is controlled by the State of New York, The Canadian side is administered by a coalition of cities and towns in the area and private interests. The Canadian side also is considered the best and most dramatic view. With limited time, the visitor would want to board "Maid of the Mist", a tour boat that takes you near the roaring falls and plan to take in the light show at dusk.

Answer: National Park of American Samoa

Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta'û are three islands in American Samoa that make up the National Park of American Samoa. The purpose of the park is to preserve coral reefs, tropical rainforests, fruit bats, and the Samoan culture. It is the only US national park south of the equator.