The creation of national parks in the United States, beginning in 1872, signaled the emerging importance of tourism as an aspect of the American economy.

Over the years, tourism in this country has increased dramatically. A larger population with more money to spend has led to a rise in the number of tourists visiting our national parks.

Every year our 63 national parks become the destination of millions of vacationers. And while most parks are in the American West, the most-visited park each year is in the eastern half of the country.

In 2021 over 14,000,000 people vacationed in the Great Smo...