17 Paintings of Parks to Be Proud Of

17 Paintings of National Parks to Be Proud Of
By Matthias Anderson

With summer in full swing, we opted to focus on the remarkable parks and historic sites that grace the United States.

Since 1872, our National Park System has grown from a single site (Yellowstone National Park) to include more than 415 natural, historical, recreational, and cultural areas throughout the U.S. and its territories. They now encompass not only national parks, but also national monuments, memorials, military parks, historic sites, parkways, recreation areas, seashores, scenic riverways, and scenic trails.

The U.S. was the first country to develop such a program, and it has subsequently been complemented by thousands of sites designated and operated by states, counties, cities, and other jurisdictions.

The attendance figures at America’s national parks are nothing less than staggering. In 2019, California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area welcomed 15 million people; the Blue Ridge Parkway 14.9 million; the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 12.5 million; New York and New Jersey’s Gateway National Recreation Area 9.4 million; the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., 7.8 million; and so on.

Of course, when we say “national park,” many of us conjure up spectacularly picturesque sites in the West: Grand Canyon National Park had 5.7 million visitors last year; Rocky Mountain National Park 4.7 million; Zion National Park 4.5 million; Yosemite National Park 4.5 million; Yellowstone National Park 4 million; Grand Teton National Park 3.4 million; and Glacier National Park 3 million.

Illustrated here is a medley of artworks made in — and in homage to — some of these beloved sites. In their captions we have indicated which park or site the artist was admiring that day, and now we encourage you to visit your own favorites.

The Grand Canyon

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Yosemite National Park

Denali National Park & Preserve

Big Bend National Park

Sapelo Island

Grand Teton National Park

Assateague Island National Seashore

Glacier National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Everglades National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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