Free Admission Sunday to Recognize Joshua Tree's Anniversary

Joshua Tree National Park will celebrate the 97th birthday of the National Park Service by offering free admission Sunday.

The park and its visitors' centers open at 8 a.m. Admission is normally $5 per person or $15 per vehicle.

Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872, and when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation that created the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916, there were 37 national parks. Today, there are 401.

"Birthdays are a time to celebrate and we want everyone to join the party," said Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Mark Butler. "So visit the park, wander a trail and take in the scenery."

Joshua Tree National Park was established as a monument in 1936, and a park in 1996. Around 1.3 million people visit every year.

For information, go to www.nps.gov/jotr or call (760) 366-1855.

City News Service contributed to this report.